I have suffered from insomnia for most of my life. It started in my young adult years when I was trying to overachieve and excel where lack of sleep was a result of getting that A+ on a term paper. In my twenties, I started to think that three hours a night was a good night’s sleep. Ironic that as a teenager insomnia gave me an edge to life. Now, lack of sleep is no longer an edge; it’s not even an annoyance, but rather a life altering condition.

I’m lucky if I get three hours each night. The first week of insomnia is relatively easy to handle on my body. By week two of insomnia I start to feel detached and react slower.  When I reach the three week of insomnia, my body begins to ache and feel fatigued. My mind is a different story. It won’t shut down. My eyes might feel dry and tired, but my brain is on overdrive – constantly thinking of the things I need to do, rehashing yesterday’s mistakes and pitfalls. I have tried every solution available from going to bed at the same time everyday to visiting sleep centers. I have a tough time falling asleep and I wake up multiple times in a night.  As a last resort, I take a sleeping pill once a month during the last week to shut down my mind and body. Nothing seems to work for very long to cure my insomnia.

Last summer, I learned that I have a vitamin b12 deficiency , which is rare for my age; I’m in my twenties. Vitamin B12 is a water soluable vitamin. B12 plays a critical role to help the brain and nervous system function normally; it also plays a role in the formation of blood and keeping red blood cells healthy. The unique quality of vitamin b12 is that vitamin b12 can be stored by the body for years in the liver. Because of this, a vitamin B12 deficiency is very rare.  I had gone to the doctor complaining about exhaustion and tingling in the extremities of my arms and legs.  He took a blood test, and diagnosed me with a b12 deficiency .  According to sleep research,  sleep disturbances may occur because B12 may be involved in the regulation of the sleep wake cycle by the pineal gland (through melatonin).  Symptoms of vitamin b12 deficiency include (but are not limited to):

• Confusion
• Change in mental status in severe or advanced cases (e.g., mood changes, lack of sleep, etc.)
• Decreased sense of vibration
• Digestive problems
• Fatigue & weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Numbness and tingling of hands and feet
• Pallor
• Shortness of breath

My doctor prescribed me high doses of vitamin b12 in various forms (daily injections, pills, sub lingual forms, functional foods high in vitamin b12).  I started to wake up less often, but my insomnia still persisted; and, we weren’t able to increase my body’s storage of vitamin b12.  After more thorough examination, we came to find out that my stomach lacks what is called an intrinsic factor, which means the inability of the small intestine to absorb vitamin B12.   My doctors think that my vitamin b12 deficiency could be one root cause to my some of my insomnia.  Knowing that I have this vitamin deficiency has helped me approach my insomnia differently.  Today, I look for natural ways to help me sleep (eating foods high in tryptophan, monitoring my b12 levels, learning relaxation techniques, limiting my caffeine).

I urge all of my fellow insomniacs to talk to their doctors to find out what is the cause of your insomnia.  Sleep isn’t a luxury.  Sleep is a vital part of everyday life.  Almost all cases of chronic insomnia stem from three categories:

• Medical condition
• Lifestyle factors
• Psychological preoccupation.

Insomniacs typically have overlap of all three categories.  Talk to your doctor about your sleep problems.  They are our best defense against insomnia.  Doctors will be able to diagnose how severe your condition is.  Sleep well!

Disclaimer: This is my own personal experience of vitamin b12 deficiency.  Should you think that you have similar symptoms, you should talk to your health care provider. The content of this article is for informational purposes only and is not to be perceived as providing medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information provided on this site should complement, not replace, the advice and relationship of your health care provider.