12/01/2025
💤 MELATONIN SENSITIVITY: Why Some People Can’t Handle It 🤯
Did you know your body only makes about 10 to 80 micrograms of melatonin each night? 💥
That’s just 0.01 to 0.08 mg. 🤯
So when someone takes 3 mg in a supplement, they may be getting up to 300 times more than their body would naturally produce. No wonder so many people, especially children or neurodivergent individuals, experience vivid dreams, hallucinations, panic, or early waking. I’m even one of these!!
This is called melatonin sensitivity.
🧠 Who’s Most Sensitive?
People with:
✔️ Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
✔️ Autism, ADHD, or sensory processing issues
✔️ Genetic methylation mutations (MTHFR, COMT, MTHFS)
✔️ Trauma or nervous system dysregulation 🙋🏼♀️
✔️ High nighttime cortisol 🙋🏼♀️or blood sugar crashes
These individuals often process REM sleep differently, have altered detox pathways, and produce less melatonin naturally, yet respond more intensely to it.
🌙 Symptoms of Sensitivity
1. Vivid or lucid dreams
2. Hallucinations or “awake while dreaming” states
3. Anxiety or overstimulation
4. Early waking or disrupted sleep
5. Nightmares or spiritual disorientation
In Traditional Naturopathy, these are signs that the nervous system is overstimulated and the hormonal rhythm is out of sync, not that melatonin is deficient!!
🌱 Naturopathic Wisdom Meets Functional Insight
Instead of overriding the system with high doses, we support the body’s ability to reset its own rhythm (read that again if needed). Natural medicine encourages gentle, restorative strategies (please do not ever PUSH the system/body):
✅ Morning light exposure or a Sperti Vitamin D lamp
✅ Calming herbs like lemon balm or chamomile (only if tolerated & doesn’t cause constipation)
✅ Magnesium glycinate and/or L-theanine
✅ Silent Nights patch (encourages your own melatonin without adding hormone)
✅ Microdosing melatonin (0.1 to 0.3 mg), if truly needed
Functional and traditional systems agree on one thing: balance is always better than force. 🤗
🩵 What Are Silent Nights Patches?
LifeWave’s Silent Nights patch is a drug-free phototherapy patch that gently stimulates specific points on the skin to encourage your body’s own natural melatonin production. Unlike supplements that flood the system with synthetic melatonin, Silent Nights works in harmony with your circadian rhythm; restoring balance without overstimulating the nervous system. 🙌🏻 💤 This makes it an ideal solution for those with melatonin sensitivity, including individuals with Down syndrome, autism, trauma history, or methylation issues.
Naturopathically, this aligns with our goal of supporting the body’s wisdom, not overriding it.
📊 Be sure to check out the graphic comparing melatonin production between neurotypical individuals and those with Trisomy 21. It’s eye-opening.
📌 Save this post if you or someone you love has struggled with sleep issues after taking melatonin. Sensitivity is real, and there are safer ways to support sleep naturally.
💊 I’m attaching a link 🔗 in the comments for my favorite magnesiums on FullScript.
If you’re interested in Silent Nights patches take a look and feel free to become a Preferred Customer or Brand Partner: www.lifewave.com/khakicooper