Fasting and difficulty sleeping

[SwishTN]

Hi!

I have been on a pretty much water fast, with eating one meal a day, and have had an incredibly difficult time sleeping. I have a lot on my mind, and am in prayer about these things, but it seems as if I can't get my mind to wind down and SHUT UP!!! I have a difficult time falling asleep, then seem to wake up wide awake at horrible times, such as 1am, 4am, etc.

I find that I am not incredibly sleepy or tired during the day, but I am not very fully alive, unless I actively interacting with someone. Which isn't always the case, and I have lots to do that requires some juice, which I am having such a difficult time pulling up....

Any input?
Could the lack of sleep be partly from toxins being released?

Thanks!
Lauri

[misslinda]

Hey Swish!

Is your one meal at the end of the day? In that meal what kinds of things are you eating? How long have you been doing this partial fast? When you cannot falll asleep, are you feeling restless, restless legs, headaches, mental anguish???

I thought I throw some starter questions for ya.

luv,
linda

[tglasco4]

If you are water fasting all day and eating your one meal at the end of the day, I would guess your problem is there. Eating food late in the day will give you energy after fasting all day and it will cause all kinds of thoughts to come in your mind. If you fall asleep before the food digests it can also cause bad dreams.

If you are eating the one meal before noon-time than I don't know what it may be. What I do in those situations is
(1) Pray
(2) Read
(3) Strength train (pushups or chin ups for me).

When I get to number (3) I usually fall asleep pretty easy.


Peace and Rest to you.

Todd

[SwishTN]

It must be that I have eaten my meal after 5pm????
I haven't even wanted to drink water....
This fast is for some mental/emotional things, and I think I am partially grieving, so I don't really even want to eat, so I don't know why I have...
And, my eating has primarily been stupid food. We'll leave it at that : )
So yes, the sleeplessness is mostly just being too alert, with mental anguish... I don't find myself trying to "solve" anything.... I actually don't even want to think about my situation, so, this it makes it all the more frustrating!!!
Thanks for the input!
Lauri

[misslinda]

I hope that I am understanding you correctly. Your are fasting to "cleanse your body" and along with that you are thinking in circles about "other stuff that is going on?"

I know that when the body is under "stress" whether it is mental or physical, it cuase the body to produce more cortisol. Magnesium is one of the first nutrients to leave the body.

Also eating after five when the body has just had water most of the day, can cause the body to start "pumping the energy."

It may also be a good idea to take inventory of what your physical/mental/emotional health was like prior to this fasting if you will call it.

Could it be that this was not a water fasting since the one meal after five consisted of unhealthy food?

**We have a thread started under "other (health related topics)" called Emotional eating that discusses deep issues that cause us to not practice raw eating habits--kind of a support group. So far, all women.**

luv,
linda

[Curtis]

I agree with Todd here, eating after 5 or 6pm could cause one to either stay awake longer or wake back up. If possible maybe eat in mid afternoon and drink water the rest of the day.