01-04-2026 — Dummy Gummy?
Howdy all. I’ve written in the past that I barely get the “normal” sleep expected. ADHD has a tendency to create a cycle of screwing up with sleep, causing weight issues, causing hormone imbalances, causing lack of sleep. — rinse and repeat —.
AI put that a little better —
“““““People with ADHD struggle to sleep due to racing thoughts, difficulty winding down, and neurotransmitter imbalances (dopamine/melatonin), disrupting the brain's sleep regulation. They often have a naturally delayed sleep phase (night owls), making it hard to sleep at conventional times, alongside issues like anxiety, sensory overload, and sometimes ADHD medications interfering with sleep.
Lack of sleep, ADHD, and weight gain are deeply connected.
:ADHD often causes sleep problems (like delayed sleep phase), while sleep deprivation disrupts hunger hormones (ghrelin/leptin) and slows metabolism, increasing cravings for high-fat/sugar foods and making healthy choices harder due to poor executive function, creating a cycle where poor sleep fuels overeating and weight gain, and in turn, weight issues can worsen ADHD symptoms, highlighting the need to treat sleep issues as a core part of managing weight with ADHD. ““““
—— Melatonin frequently helps young ADHD people get better sleep, but, for me it makes me anxious and restless ———————
More from AI —
““““““Neurotransmitter Imbalances: Melatonin synthesis in the body is directly dependent on the availability of serotonin, a key neurotransmitter for mood regulation. In sensitive individuals, melatonin supplements may disrupt this delicate balance, potentially creating an imbalance that results in anxiety symptoms.
Hormonal Sensitivity: Some people are more sensitive to supplemental hormones. Taking melatonin can temporarily disrupt the balance of stress-related hormones like cortisol, which might trigger anxiety symptoms instead of reducing them.““““““
——- Cortisol is a key hormone in this. Increasing the level causes weight gain.
As AI states ——-
“““““Cortisol, often called the "stress hormone," plays a significant role in how your body manages weight, primarily by influencing where fat is stored and how much you eat. While it is essential for survival, chronically elevated levels can lead to stubborn weight gain.””””””””
So why did I just type all of this up? Because I have never slept well. Even as a child, I would be awake most of the night, with my mind running dozens of threads simultaneously. And then, I’d fall asleep — a deep, deep, sleep. And, as many ADHD kids suffer with, bedwetting. Just looked that up, and, hey, I was in the top 10% of that too. Sadly, the 10% oldest to finally stop!!! Anyway
Over the years I’ve tried all of the over-the-counter medications for getting sleep, and all of the herbal methods, and most of the pharmaceutical drugs. All have basically failed. But, many moons ago, I did “occasionally” inhale. Yeah, the wicked weed. And, while it never really gave me a high, it did a good job of slowing down my brain. Instead of hundreds of threads running among, only one or two thoughts would be able to hold their own. Thus, I could get some sleep.
Over the last 5-10 years, the herbal “hemp” gummies became mostly legal and available. I’ve tried them with limited success. Then THC gummies became legal in most states. I’ve been using them with just a tad more success.
Well, I finally went the full step, and with “recreational” CBD/THC being legal in Ohio, I ponied up for a small bag of those Sleep Gummies. If you wonder why not the smoke-able version, I’m still adicted to smoking (urge is there), but I haven’t lit up in 25 years, and I’d prefer to not start up again.
So last night, I took my first Sleep Gummy. I hadn’t taken any sleep herbals in a few days, just to make sure any effect would be the new stuff. I only took a half gummy, because I have no idea what the results may be, and certainly didn’t want to become more anxious or aggrevated while trying to sleep.
It was about 7:00-7:30 when I ate it. I was hoping by 9 I might be sleepy or drowsy, or at least closer to wanting to sleep. I felt nothing different when I went to bed at 9. Or while in bed at 10, or at 11. Brain was cycling through the past, the present, the future, all at the same time, just as normal.
Oh, I didn’t mention that the day had been semi active for me, and I had rolled my ankle/feet a couple times, and had gotten up that day with a stiff back and neck/shoulders. Yeah, basically I’m old and in miserable shape.
So, just before midnight, my body did start to react. Not to the gummy, but to my physical discomfort. My left foot, up the calf, decided to have a muscle spasm/lock up. And as I was trying to get out of bed, the right foot / leg was thinking of having its own. Fortunately, I made it to the medicine cabinet and used just about every muscle cream/lotion/ointment pain releaver I had on both leg/ankles. That helped some, but with the other aches happening, I decided to give in and take a couple Advil Dual Action tablets too.
Then back to bed. Sometime in the next hour or so I fell asleep. But, because I was laying face down, with my feet hanging of the bed (so they were comfortable and not cramping), my arms were under my body. Duh, I woke with both arms numb and dead to the world. Rolling over was interesting, to say the least. And then the lovely pins and needles affect was just marvelous.
But I degress. I did fall asleep a couple more times between 2 and 4:30, for short periods, but by 5:30 I was quite awake and by 6:30, I gave up for the night. Total sleep for the first night with the Sleep Gummy, maybe 2 to 2 1/2 hours. That’s no different than many nights.
I will try a full gummy tonight, and will not try to aggrevate any of my joints and muscles today, to see if these will do anything. I am hopeful, but not extremely so.
I sure wish I could sleep, and then, Enjoy Life