Symptoms — insomnia

Natural relief from your sleeplessness

“I’d had insomnia since the earth’s crust cooled — a long, long time! As I got older the insomnia really kicked in. I’ve been on the Program for about half a year now, and it has helped a whole lot with my sleep problems. People have definitely noticed the change in me. I’m bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.” — Chris, Personal Program Member

Do you wake up at 3:00 am and look at the clock — then can’t go back to sleep ‘til dawn? Sleeping problems like difficulty falling asleep, trouble staying asleep and restless sleep are common in women in perimenopause and menopause. Insomnia, in fact, is a common symptom of hormonal imbalance.

Insomnia and interrupted sleep patterns are especially common during perimenopause, affecting some one-third to two-thirds of all women. While it’s true that some women need less sleep than others, there is a difference between needing less sleep and having trouble sleeping when you’re tired. If you aren’t waking up refreshed in the morning, it’s time to do something about your sleeplessness. You’re harming your health if you don’t.

Insomnia and related sleeping problems may have many causes, but the usual suspects are:

• Night sweats, which are a clear indicator of hormonal imbalance.
• Chronic stress, which causes adrenal exhaustion and suppresses levels of DHEA, a vital regulator of sleep. This is one way we pay the price for over-scheduled lifestyles.
• Alcohol, caffeine, or carbohydrate consumption, especially in the hours before bedtime often results in sleeplessness. It’s a common mistake to eat a late dinner that’s high in carbs.
• Conflicts, worries or problems that create anxiety and that we have avoided dealing with or haven’t been able to resolve happily.

You don’t need sleeping pills

It’s very important to avoid chronic dependence on sleeping pills as a cure for insomnia. They may be needed to support you through brief transitions, but they create new problems without fixing the ones you already have.

And insomnia relief doesn’t require sleeping pills. We recommend addressing insomnia causes. Many women find natural cures for insomnia by giving their bodies the support they need to maintain hormonal balance.

(For more in-depth information on causes and natural solutions for sleeplessness, read our full-length article on insomnia in women.)

Our Personal Program has been very successful in helping women with sleeping problems due to hormonal imbalance.

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Last Modified: 08/16/2010