I do not know about you, but my sleep quality has tanked since being active with fitness every day. I would say sleeping quality has become a Really big issue since December 2012.

I stopped caring about trying to achieve a decent sleep a few months ago, even though I have consistently gone through the motions daily by getting to bed early enough to ensure 8-9 hours. Yet I have not slept soundly, have not achieved a good state of REM state and definitely have not felt rested the following day. I have tried melatonin (up to 10 ml!) and many other herbs at different times to help with getting a decent sleep. I have no problem falling asleep; it is staying asleep and also also sleeping deeply that eludes me. Night after night. Sigh...

Last night I tried a GABA supplement (stronger than theaanine) for creating a strong enough ripple in my mind to initiate decent size alpha waves for deep sleep. Finally slept the whole night, feel really rested this morning and remember my all-night dream with clarity. However, I am just concerned that taking GABA supplementation will create an imbalance (a different one then I had before) that could mess with other things like emotions.

I want to be able to consistently hit deep sleep to help my body recover from hard fitness routines and also to not feel emotionally tired all the time. Is it time for me to go to the doctor and get a prescription for something hat will knock me ou every night?

Have you tried increasing GABA naturally through eating? Kefir, shrimp, oolong tea, kimchee, kombucha, etc. are all high in GABA.

I've been doing a lot of research into using fermented foods (like kimchee and kombucha) to improve my thyroid (I have Hashimotos). I also have sleeping issues and was excited that a lot of the same foods are naturally high in GABA.

I also use Ambien. I'm in the process of trying to stop using it totally. I'm down to a 2.5 mg dose once a week and a 5mg dose once every other week. I wasn't addicted to it, but I love being able to lay down and just go to sleep. My problem is my brain won't shut down and I can't get to sleep.

No, I do not eat any of that except occasionally shrimp. My diet is really predictable except for dinner when my wife shows off her mad chef "the chew" skills. I like to keep eating simple and basic. I do not need complex flavors or exotic food preparations. A bowl of steel cut oats, a serving of lean chicken, a few ounces of broccoli, chia seeds, 2 energy squares; that works fine for me.

What is this GABA that you speak of? Glad your sleep is better and hopefully this GABA will not interfere with other functions.

Do you feel tired or sleepy during the day. If not, perhaps you don't need 8 or 9 hours and your body just won't let you have it. If you do feel sleepy during the day, Google the term "sleep hygiene" to see if that applies to you. I personally find my sleep greatly improved by a sleep mask and earplugs. If you get a sleep mask, don't get a cheap one from the drugstore. Instead get one of the nice ones made by Bucky for around $20 or $25 dollars.

Did you have sleep apnea? I had a CPAP for 10 years prior to surgery and was hoping to be rid of it post-surgery. Whilst I do not have the apnea events as I did prior, I find that without it, I feel the same as you. I can fall asleep, but do not feel fully rested the next day. So ... I use my CPAP. Pre-surgery, my setting was 14.5. I changed it to 4.5 now and it is working for me. Would love to not use it, but I loves me a good night sleep!

Did you have sleep apnea? I had a CPAP for 10 years prior to surgery and was hoping to be rid of it post-surgery. Whilst I do not have the apnea events as I did prior' date=' I find that without it, I feel the same as you. I can fall asleep, but do not feel fully rested the next day. So ... I use my CPAP. Pre-surgery, my setting was 14.5. I changed it to 4.5 now and it is working for me. Would love to not use it, but I loves me a good night sleep![/quote']

I went to a sleep study 2 months ago and they said no sleep apnea.

Hi Fiddle. Have you considered the possibility that you're overtraining? Just a thought... I'm sorry that you're having difficulty getting some quality sleep in.

I've heard that exercising too close to bedtime interferes with sleep. Could that be part of your problem?

Hi Fiddle. Have you considered the possibility that you're overtraining? Just a thought... I'm sorry that you're having difficulty getting some quality sleep in.

This might be it.

I've heard that exercising too close to bedtime interferes with sleep. Could that be part of your problem?

Thans for your suggestion. I usually exercise at 3:30-4 pm.

I'm sorry. Sleep is so important! I was taking Tylenol PM for months along with some caps from my wonderful California green shop and both if those worked wonders. Then I had to cold turkey for surgery. My sleep has been great and I don't need those anymore. I'm finding my body only needs 6/7 hrs now.

Have you tried Melatonin?? It's natural and safe to take daily. My daughter's doc has her start taking about 3 years ago to help her since she has ADHD. I started using it last year and it really helps me feel relaxed and sleep better and feel related in the morning.

Have you tried Melatonin?? It's natural and safe to take daily. My daughter's doc has her start taking about 3 years ago to help her since she has ADHD. I started using it last year and it really helps me feel relaxed and sleep better and feel related in the morning.

Oh yes,I have done melatonin for a few months now. I started with about 5 mg of melatonin mixed in with valerian root, hops and a few other things. I have recently switched to just 1 ml dose of liquid melatonin. It definitely helps with falling asleep, but still do not sleep through the night and always wake between 2-3 am. What I have noticed sight I can take another 1 ml dose at 3 am and it will give me another 3 hours of sleep and I feel ready to get up between 5:30a-6a. For kicks I tried taking unison instead the other night. When I woke up, I thought it was 3 am. However, it was 6 am. I had slept through the whole night. However, I had trouble waking up to do my job effectively for about 2 hours and I also needed to take coffee (have been not drinking coffee for a couple months in the morning ). So no win with unison. It drugged me too much in the morning. More suggestions?

I don't know if this is relevant for you but when that happens to me, it's my thyroid and the meds are over correcting and making me hypothyroid or over active thyroid. Could you have a thyroid problem? Random guess here but prominent in my mind since I had to get my dose reduced today for exactly this reason. Maybe worth looking ip other hypo symptoms to see if they fit.

I don't know if this is relevant for you but when that happens to me' date=' it's my thyroid and the meds are over correcting and making me hypothyroid or over active thyroid. Could you have a thyroid problem? Random guess here but prominent in my mind since I had to get my dose reduced today for exactly this reason. Maybe worth looking ip other hypo symptoms to see if they fit.[/quote']

Interesting theory. No idea. It might be worth following up on. My sleep is still on the to be desired front as I wake up at 3am nightly. Falling asleep is no issue at all. I have never been told I have anything interesting going on with my thyroid. Is it a blood draw or some other type of test?