Hi Gillyan, I just had same this conversation with my sister! (Must run in the family)
I had a period of mild depression and anxiety, which resulted in me having both gastric reflux, and insomnia, where I would fret over the hours of sleep I would get, then also wake up in the early hours and not get back to sleep. I was offered councelling and anti-depressants by the doc, but as I felt it was a temporary condition triggered by certain events, stress and therefore me not eating too well, I accepted the councelling but refused the pills and went down the nutritional route. (Unfortunately seen too many friends and family messed up with willy nilly prescribed antidepressants.)
For the sleep, I tried some simple things like lavender oil on my pillow, taking valerian which is known for its relaxing and calming properties. It can reduce anxiety and encourage sleep without the unpleasant side effects associated with a lot of insomnia medication. Smells like hops though and I found it's better taken for a while as opposed to a quick fix and I'm quite impatient.
My "man" already mentioned, recommended I take magnesium citrate. Apparently a deficiency in magnesium is known to be linked to insomnia, (and also depression for that matter) the western diet is low in magnesium and even if the levels aren't that low, if your calcium levels are higher it works out the same - all about balance, but I won't waffle unless you really need to know more background!
He said that while we sleep a process called the "magnesium exchange" happens, and if you are deficient it can stop and result in you waking - put very, very simply for my benefit I'm sure.
If you don't want to take anything you're not sure of, the best food sources of magnesium are chocolate, nuts, seeds, and deep, dark, leafy greens. If you regularly consume these foods you may not need extra magnesium.
If you decide to take magnesium citrate like I did, (I'm not qualified in any way so ask a health professional for dosage relating to you and any other issues, conditions and medications you have), if taken in the correct dose and early enough in the day magnesium often corrects insomnia. Taking magnesium late in the day is not a problem if it does not adversely affect your sleep.
(An extract about it: Magnesium in the form of magnesium citrate is the most easily absorbed form for the body. Magnesium can also improve moods, relieve insomnia, asthma and migraines and help pre-menstrual problems. It is used by the medical profession to counteract irregular heart beats (arrhythmia).
If you suffer from frequent diarrhoea, take the contraceptive pill, are under a lot of stress or take a lot of strenuous exercise, you are likely to be deficient in this important mineral.)
I found if I took the full dose it actually gave me the runs so he advised me to halve it. Along with a high quality fish oil (I'll put link to all this stuff at the bottom) It really sorted me out quite quickly and whenever I'm feeling low and stressed I return to taking fish oil which helps me loads. (The brain is mostly fat and out of that fat almost 60% is omega 3 fats. Omega 3 is linked to helping depression, brain function and stress).
I haven't had to go back to the magnesium as I started taking a really good multivitamin and a better diet since then.
I only use the best quality, and most recommended brands which can cost a pretty penny, but they are worth it IMO, (plus once you've read the brand websites about the products there's loads of places online to buy the same brand but cheaper!)
Magnesium citrate:
Solgar-explanation
Actual tablets
Omega 3 Fish Oil
Higher Nature
(taken from the body of the fish, not just the liver like cod liver oils, containing more DHA, and I take throughout pregnancy too)
An interesting article on how different fats we eat affect our brain (ADD related stuff in there too which some may find interesting):
here
BIIIIIIIIG Waffle, but I spose it's my thread to hijack