Overactive Adrenals Leads to Insomnia

re: Overactive Adrenals Leads to Insomnia

nissefru — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:35:54 GMT

I lie awake from 3-5 AM every night since childhood. It is due to a cortisol-peak. It is different from insomnia, it is like my brain is on kerosine: full blast ahead. I had found some correlation with bloodsugar: it is more intense when I have eaten starches or sugars during the day. Especially potatoes at dinner did the trick.

Because of this me and my dr. thought it to be sugar-related: hypo/hyperglycemia. But even on a ketogenic diet I will still lie awake, be it more relaxed.

This spurrs the question: why does the body find it neccessary to peak its cortisol at noght? Is it because of hypoglycemia in the night + not enough glycagon/glycogen = second line of defence against hypoglycemia kicks in being epinephrine and cortisol.

Or are some of these people very 'adrenalic people', living intensly on their stress-hormones? I know I probably am. I ran my adrenals down: I have now adrenal fatigue.

I have changed my ways: no more sugarrides with this ketogenic diet, my brain runs on ketones now. My life has less stress since I left my career, my ambitions and the city. Also I am on hormonal treatment for adrenal fatigue, hypothyroïsm and oestrogen-dominance. These have not prevented me from lying awake though. My cortisol still runs high during the night.

re: Overactive Adrenals Leads to Insomnia

allison+7 — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:54:00 GMT

Well, (duh, as they say) I just re-read this article and saw at the top of the page "overactive adrenals leads to insomnia". Perhaps the medical professionals need far more information in treating alcoholism than they learn in medical school. I have heard recovering alcoholics make that statement. My training as an R.N. has led me to believe that medical students, as well as nursing students, should be required to attend open A.A. meetings regularly for several months in order to learn from the "real" experts. Families, as well as the medical profession, need a thorough understanding of this three-fold disease, which the Supreme Court classified as a disease, of body, mind, and spirit. The biological aspects of recovery are vital, but the mental and spiritual aspects are imperitive. The 12 Steps to Recovery program that one finds in A.A. are literally a life line that can insure recovery if one learns and practices "the program". This program has been adopted and adapted in the family groups of Al-Anon, Adult Children of Alcoholics, Al-Ateen, and is also used in recovery programs for other addictions. I believe that the general public is not aware of the myriad health problems associated with this disease, and feel it would make a difference if more information were made available.

re: Overactive Adrenals Leads to Insomnia

allison+7 — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:06:41 GMT

I know several chronic alcoholics who complain of insomnia, and whose ability to effectively combat stress seems to indicate that their adrenal glands are overtaxed, therefore inadequately functioning. Wouldn't this affect their ability to sleep well?