I think my insomnia started when i went on a zero sugar and low carb diet, a somewhat paleo like diet, a couple years ago. At that point in time my sleep began to not be so deep but I was still getting around 7.5 hours of sleep.
A year or so in the paleo diet, my sleep got worse where I would wakeup with soar jaws from teeth clenching. Often I would wakeup from nightmares, heart pounding sometimes body sweating. At the time, I thought i was stressed out with life and actually went to go see a psychotherapist, which of course did not help at all. During this time. I started doing intermittent fasting on and off, which looking back don't think helped my situation. I was getting 6-6.5 hours of sleep on average at the time.
Fast forward and I often will wake up between 3am and 4am.I think I have high cortisol at night which is preventing me from getting quality sleep. Some of my current symptoms include:
- I have a decrease in cognitive abilities, short term memory loss
- Sometimes I wakeup with a slight headaches and/or very hungry, if I go too long without food I get slight headaches (I don't intermittent fast anymore)
- I can get anxiety throughout the day, probably due to lack of quality sleep
-When i wake up I have lower back pain sometimes unable to bend down to touch my knees
-I have inflamed gums/gingivitis.
- I think I have lost muscle and gained about 20 lbs of weight.
I went to my doctor and my blood tests came back normal, and my doctor told me I am an overall healthy guy and that I could not sleep because I was stressed out and depressed and he recommended anti-depressants, I told him to take a hike more or less.
Before I discovered this forum I was taking an extend bar, magnesium powder, 1 tbs of fiber and glycerol at night to help improve sleep. It helped a little. The glycerol does help get rid of nightmares.
After reading the forum a little, I have read someone suggest taking coconut oil, sugar and salt. How much of each do I take before bed?
Is the Ray Peat diet for me?
Any help would be appreciated
-Wonderdog
A year or so in the paleo diet, my sleep got worse where I would wakeup with soar jaws from teeth clenching. Often I would wakeup from nightmares, heart pounding sometimes body sweating. At the time, I thought i was stressed out with life and actually went to go see a psychotherapist, which of course did not help at all. During this time. I started doing intermittent fasting on and off, which looking back don't think helped my situation. I was getting 6-6.5 hours of sleep on average at the time.
Fast forward and I often will wake up between 3am and 4am.I think I have high cortisol at night which is preventing me from getting quality sleep. Some of my current symptoms include:
- I have a decrease in cognitive abilities, short term memory loss
- Sometimes I wakeup with a slight headaches and/or very hungry, if I go too long without food I get slight headaches (I don't intermittent fast anymore)
- I can get anxiety throughout the day, probably due to lack of quality sleep
-When i wake up I have lower back pain sometimes unable to bend down to touch my knees
-I have inflamed gums/gingivitis.
- I think I have lost muscle and gained about 20 lbs of weight.
I went to my doctor and my blood tests came back normal, and my doctor told me I am an overall healthy guy and that I could not sleep because I was stressed out and depressed and he recommended anti-depressants, I told him to take a hike more or less.
Before I discovered this forum I was taking an extend bar, magnesium powder, 1 tbs of fiber and glycerol at night to help improve sleep. It helped a little. The glycerol does help get rid of nightmares.
After reading the forum a little, I have read someone suggest taking coconut oil, sugar and salt. How much of each do I take before bed?
Is the Ray Peat diet for me?
Any help would be appreciated
-Wonderdog