In case you haven't noticed or been paying close attention, I DO.NOT.SLEEP.
I am a clinically diagnosed insomniac. It's true. Someone once asked what an insomniac "does" instead of sleep. I answered, "BLOG!" hahaha!
Here is how it works for me. If I try to lay down before 11pm, I will toss and turn until 2am, feeling like I have just wasted so much time. I no longer try to go to bed before 11pm. It's pointless. I rarely even try to go to be before midnight. My goal: Go to sleep sometime between 12am-2am. On the nights I succeed, I will ALWAYS wake up at 3am, again at 330am, again at 4am, 4:30am... well, you get the idea. However, most nights, I fall asleep between 2am and 4am and THEN wake up only every hour until about 6:30am.
The question then begs, "What keeps me up at night?" Well, truthfully, what DOESN'T???
Love. Thoughts. Ideas. Love. Money. School. Love. Children. Health. Church. Love. Ideas. Thoughts. Love. More Thoughts. More Ideas. Love. Love. Love. ...you get the idea...
So, what do I do about all of these thoughts and ideas? I make lists. No, I do not keep a pencil and notepad by my bed. However, I *DO* keep my blackberry phone AND my laptop by my bed. Mostly, I make lists in my phone's memo-pad or add to the already-growing lists. On really bad nights, I will actually get up, turn on the laptop and blog away. I've also been known to drum up some fliers for the church activity or an invite to a child's party, etc.
Oh! You wanna know my lists? Well, ok... but I *WARN* you, they are RANDOM... (i know, big surprise)...
Without further adieu... my lists:
5k training tips
Baby names I like (and no, i am not even planning on having a baby *anytime* soon)
Blog Topics
Bucket list
iTunes wish list
Movies to see
Races
Things to Google
Things to tell Big-D (this one is basically empty, which probably causes me the most stress ever)
I know what y'all are thinking... "That's what keeps you up???" Well, yeah, see they don't call it Insomnia for nothing! :)
18 comments:
ohmigosh. my heart goes out to you. here i am trying to stay awake. and there you are, couldn't sleep soundly..
I was sleeping like an insomniac last night. I couldn't get comfortable, tossed and turned, woke up about every hour once I did fall asleep, brain just busy, busy, busy.
I keep track of baby names I like, too. If I think of a name I like now, I don't want to forget it when I have a baby X years from now.
I'm like that to, but over the years I have learned to deal with it. I usually take enough stuff to bed with me to get through. My i-pod, a note-pad and pen, 'cos I usually get my best ideas at night and I just jot them down. A good book is always a must. I just find it pointless wasting all that time, so I write lists too. These can range from anything to shopping lists or things that I plan to do the next day. But, sit down and try to watch something on the T.V. during the day is one sure thing to help me fall off to sleep for an hour or so during the afternoons!
I've tried all these "relaxation tapes" but I find the guys voice so annoying that he just stresses me out too much! So that didn't work! So for now, I lie awake making lists of things that I know that I'll not have the time to do during the day!
I have problems falling asleep (due to my health issues) but once I get to sleep I am ok. I feel so bad for you. I cant imagine not getting sleep night after night.
Making lists is a good idea...even random ones.Anything to help clear your mind.
I have to watch some tv to get my mind all blank so I can sleep. otherwise I'll think and think and think
I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to not sleep. I "LOVE" to sleep. My heart aches for you.
I had the same problem and I couldn't function. So, I sought help. The thing that saved my life was progressive relaxation. It's awesome!
I've had bouts of insomnia...but never to your extent. It is terrible and people always say...well just go to sleep :) Ha! Easier said than done right? Hope they can find something to help you. I did enjoy the lists...why don't you share some of things on the lists:)
well, here are some things that helped me:
1. the bed is only for sleeping. if you can't sleep then get out of bed.
2. make white noise. turn on a loud fan or something like that to drown out any other noises.
3. read something hard to understand. sometimes the scriptures are good for this because they are written in older english. shakespeare could also work. or textbooks. even if they don't get you to sleep you will learn something.
4. take a hot bubble bath before bed.
so basically, before having kids i had the hardest time sleeping. now, if i'm awake but know that i need to sleep i will go take a hot bubble bath and read a book in the tub. lately i've been reading spy novels. anyway, i stay in the tub till i'm almost asleep. then i go to bed. sometimes i have to stay in the tub for so long that the water gets cool. i just let some out and refill with hot. anyway, those are my only suggestions.
Develop a bedtime routine, soft music, hot bath, hot chocolate, meditation and such. A few years ago there was a story on KSL news about sleep disorders. Maybe they have an archive you can check out.
I work graveyard shift and on my nights off if I try to go to bed at 11 I usually end up getting up, so lately I just stay up, but I don't have insomina just a graveyard person!
I can not imagine not being able to sleep. I'd go crazy, I think.
On the nights that I do have too much running through my brain, I do make notes in my phone, but that is so rare. My notes section is empty right now, I think. lol
Gosh girly! I hope you can get your insomnia issue resolved.
What a great idea!! Thanks Emma!!! Love the list idea!!
I have it too! I can't wait to get my laptop, I will have something to do besides tossing and turning.
I hope I never have to experience insomnia first-hand. I am thankful that I grew up right next to the train tracks because I sleep through everything (which is not so good when it's my alarm). I too love lists.
I make lists all the time. Camping? Better make a list. Grocery shopping, of course. Honey-do lists are always a must. Then there's the often added to, but almost never removed from "Things to Buy When I Have Money List".
I am also a diagnosed insomniac. I hate it. I will stay away for 3 whole day and nights only to fall asleep for 2 or 3 hours only to start on the awake days again without medication.
I saw on Jeopardy yesterday that sunflower seeds are a natural cure for insomnia.
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