Does anyone else here ever experience sleeping problems outside of CH cycles?  For about the past month and a half I wake up alert after 31/2-- 4 -- 5 hours maximum sleep (on most days) and can't fall back to sleep. (This is NOT enough sleep for me.)  Despite going to bed at the same time each night it seems to be working itself almost in a pattern of 31/2 hours, next night 4 hours, next night 5 hours, next night 3 1/2 hours.At first I thought it was just "temporary" but it seems to not be going away despite exercise, eating healthy, taking melatonin.  It has never happened to me for this long.
Any input as to what could be going on?  I  am tired!

A theory as I understand it.
During an active cluster phase naturally occuring melatonin is excreted at a heavier rate than normal through the kidneys.
Out of CH phase melatonin is generated and used in a normal fashion in the body/mind.
Melatonin is a stabilized production at the bodies natural needs.
Out of cycle melatonin supplements may not have any benefit at all other than in the event of sleep deprivation due to jet lag et al on a very short term basis.
Melatonin may work detrimental to normal Melatonin production if not needed. Therefore quit taking it.

What you've described has been happening to me for years.  Personally, I chalk it up to having a hypothalamus that gets out of whack, even when I'm not in a CH cycle.  I'll wake up at a very consistant time, and wide awake.  I haven't tracked it as carefully as I track my headaches, but I think my cycles of sleep problems last for a few weeks with months in between.  It was first suggested to me that it's a common effect of depression, but I've never bought into that, since I've not had any other of the signs of depression. I'm one of those who hasn't had very good results from melatonin, and I'm not a big fan of prescription hypnotics.  So I try to manage with benedryl, or if I've had a few bad nights in a row, I'll use a small dose of alprazolam, which is quite effective for me.

Just a thought: Hormones? Change of life?

Hey guys thanks,

MJ, thanks for the melatonin info, I would like to go off of it, but am scared to, because the last time I tried (quite a while ago) and I didn't take it for a few nights, I started getting bad shadows at night :(  Some people here told me it was a coincidence, which it might have been, cause I was also under a lot of stress at the time, but still too scared to try again right now I think.
Pattik,
Same here, I don't feel depressed like it is a depression thing although when you google it that is what comes up I don't feel like that's the case with me either.  I feel like it is probably just something internal with hypothalamus or something like you said.
Brew, that made me laugh b/c it does actually get worse for the 2 weeks before that time of the month--I think I am too young for the "change of life" (I am 35) although who knows LOL!

Quote:

I think I am too young for the "change of life" (I am 35)

Stranger things have happened. There are a certain number of women who are "blessed" with early onset menopause.

Oh believe me I would be on my knees with gratitude lol--there truly is nothing as wretched as PMS.

Well, like I said, it was just a thought.

Have you changed anything else in your habits?

your bedroom tempreture is it good enough for sleeping?(not too warm neither too cold but cool enough for a nice good sleep?at least this works for me)
are you eating well enough before going for sleep?
i mean you eating healthy but maybe it's too early in the evening perhaps?