Monday, June 28, 2010

Please sign me up for the 12 Step Insomnia Program....

Monday, June 28, 2010.....

Is there one? If so, sign me up. I want to kick my habit of Insomnia! It's horrible, debilitating and I believe an intervention is in order.

Isn't that people do for loved ones when a habit is causing havoc on their lives? Insomnia is doing just that. To me. I want it to stop without sleeping aids.

Why can't I just take 12 steps from the door of the bedroom to the bed and automatically fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow? This was the question racing through my head Friday night/Saturday morning. I mean, some people make it look easy. Natural. I don't think I can remember the last time I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Ahhhhhh.....now that would be heavenly.

Some people dream of lavish homes, cars, winning lotto, but for me.....it is getting a good night's sleep on a daily basis.

19 comments:

Tracie said...

Ugh. So sorry that you suffer from this. I get it every once in a while an it's miserable! Have you tried melatonin?

Anonymous said...

I find at this time of year the longer days keep me up. An epsom salt bath and lavender oil helps put me to sleep. I also have to shut the TV and computer off at least half an hour before bed otherwise I'm over stimulated and the wheels keep on turning. Good luck getting some sleep tonight. - G

Brian Miller said...

ack. hope you find an answer...the heat made it a bit tough last night but...i have heard melatonin helps and there is another herbal supplement a psychiatrist recommended...will look it up and get back to you...

Heckety said...

We use Dr Bach's Sleep Remedy- but I don't know if you can get it over the water? Not sleeping is an absolute bummer- and people who sllep well have no idea how awful it is not. Sympathies...no, SYMPATHIES! Truly.
My Mom read a really sarcastic article ages ago about people who think they have insomnia but don't really know the meaning of the word- it said something like...for most people insomnia is lying awake all night for half an hour...think about it, its very rude!!

Ryan said...

While I also suffer from this, my partner falls asleep within 5 minutes of hitting her pillow, I think stress plays a huge role in insomnia.

Stephanie said...

Ug.....so sorry to hear this! WHen I can't sleep, I make lists of all the things running around in my head. This seems to help a little.
Hope you find the sandman soon.

Debbie said...

I have periods of insomnia and it is the worst thing. I hope you are over it soon.

Herding Cats said...

I feel for you because I rarely get insomnia, but when I do, it's BAD. My cure? Teaching. It wears me out to the point where I fall asleep before I reach bed. But if that doesn't work - lots of exercise or Sleepytime tea.

Unknown said...

Insomnia is my middle name...I haven't slept in about 9 years! I wish I were kidding, but I'm not. I usually sleep 2-3 hours a night all siad and done and that is WITH my deadly cocktail of OTC and perscription drugs. A good night is 3 straight hours, but it's been about 6 months since I had one of those.
My heart and head go out to you and hope this is only a small bump in the road for you!

Adrienne said...

Sorry about this I have been dealing with it since age 14 as a matter of fact last night was a 2 hour sleep night ... I will go 7 or 8 days and then a crash ...I refuse for some reason to see a dr. good luck on this matter

P said...

I have so much trouble getting to sleep at night, yesterday it was something like half past two before I got to sleep and even then i was tossing and turning for at least an hour or two in a really restless doze. Hate it.

Maria said...

LMB, if you can find a solution, let me know as I can't sleep either! It's awful!

J.J. in L.A. said...

I take a Tylenol PM between 3-4 am and I'm lucky if I can sleep in til 10. Even with the PM, it takes me about an hour to actually fall asleep.

Good times!

Cheryl said...

My nights look a whole like yours. Are your days filled with brain-dead wanderings too?

Mike said...

Watch a car race, it will put you right to sleep!

Liz Mays said...

I hate when that happens. It's only about once a month for me. I hope you sleep deeply tonight, my friend!

Anonymous said...

From what I've heard the experts say, if you fall asleep straight away or within say 10 minutes, you're sleep deprived.

If you take half hour or more, then you're not.

Unfortunately when you don't get to sleep at all, you then become sleep deprived, so that's not good.

Suggestions - remove all electricals from the room so there's no noise, lights, buzzing etc.

Block the bottom of the door, and cover up the window so there's no light coming in.

Try to get yoursef into a routine. Get up at the same time each morning, go to bed at the same time each night.

Don't read, watch tv etc in bed, just leave the bedroom for sleep and sex.

Maybe exercising will help wear you out about an hour before bed.

Other than that, have you tracked down websites that offer advice?

Luna said...

sorry to hear that. i know what its like. something that helps me is yawning. no matter how not tired or not sleepy i am, if i want to go to sleep i force myself to yawn. for some reason doing that helps release all the extra energy i have in me and it makes me sleepy and relaxed right away. doing this has helped me get to sleep many times.

Little Ms Blogger said...

Tracie – I have not and you’re the 2nd person who mentioned this so I’m thinking of trying it.

Gerogina Dollface – I wish I could take a long bath – I only have working showers. I do miss a relaxing bath, but like the lavender eye patch concept.
Brian Miller – please let me know when you find it.

Heckety – hmmm. Never heard of this and will have to see if I can get in US – sometimes we can’t get things other countries can.

Ryan – That I have an ABUDANCE of.

ModernMom – That doesn’t keep you up? Making lists only keeps me up. I try to brain dump things I have to get done for the next day on an index card.

Debbie – I hope so too, but it seems to be never ending.

Herding Cats – Sleepytime tea? Hmm – I’ll try.

Sullygirl – OMG, I hope this doesn’t go on for 9 years! How do you stand it? I was so exhausted last night my eyeballs hurt and I was massaging them at 2:15 a.m. praying for sleep. I wish I could use Unisom, but when I do use, it is rare, I’m knocked out for at least 15 hours.

Adrienne – I’m so sorry to hear this. My heart really goes out to you.

P – I don’t know what’s worse, not sleeping or being in a brain fog the next day.

Maria.palermo – I will.

J.J – I tried that and Tylenol PM does nothing for me.

Cheryl – My days are definitely filled with brain like fogs

Otin – or make me throw up from all the circular motion

BV – Once a month is still enough, but I’d take that over this.

Jewels – I’ve removed the electronics from the bedroom, but your right about the routine. I read your comment late last night and thought I really need to try this again (and more than just 3 days) and maybe incorporate a little meditation, melatonin or sleepytime tea into the mix.

Luna – Yawning? Hmmm…never thought of that. It does make me sleepy when other people yawn and I start yawning from reaction.