Dogs and babies. I swear. They can sleep just about anywhere. Used to be, I could too. Historically, sleep is not something that eludes me. Regardless of what was going on in my life – good, bad, indifferent – within five, ten minutes of hitting my pillow, I was dead to the outside world and driving a Plymouth Satellite in my own private Idaho. These past couple years, though, situational insomnia has reared its ugly head on more than a few occasions, like some big ol' wet blankie of a dream policeman with all lights blazing to shut down my nighttime party gone out of bounds.
Sleep? Why won't you dance with me? I'm not no Limburger . . .
Anyhoo. Now I'm doing all kinds of research, which includes informal polling of friends and family. Help a gal out and let me know: what's sleep like for you?
1. I'm out like a light as soon as my head hits the pillow and I sleep until I get up.
2. I fall asleep quickly, but wake up several times during the night.
3. I take forever to fall asleep but once I do, I sleep straight through the night.
4. I sleep just great! Thanks to an arsenal of herbal supplements, illegal drugs, and several fifths of vodka.
5. Sleep? Sleep is for wussies and squares. Nothing beats the hallucinogenic experience of three days straight on your feet.
30 comments:
It varies. But too much water before bed time is a no-no as it will necessitate a night time excursion to the bathroom. I've found peppermint or camomile tea are very relaxing and do aid restful sleep. Mind you, things have improved dramatically since I got myself a new bed without my snoring, snuffling ex in it :)
Joanna: You know those sitcoms from the 50s and 60s that showed couples in separate, twin beds? I think they were on to something :o). My mom swore by camomile, but I've never been able to abide the taste. Still, at this point? I'll kiss a buffalo if it means a good night's sleep.
I sleep well, except for when my wife has problems sleeping.
She turns on the tv and falls back asleep...and wakes me up.
I went through HS in a Plymouth Satellite.
AGHHHH! I thought it was JUST ME. I used to be able to sleep fairly soundly, but not no mo. Maybe every three days, but I think it's because, by the third day, I'm just so exhausted I HAVE to sleep.
Lack of sleep makes me CRAZY. But I guess I'm not completely screwed up... I recognized the B52s reference.
I would have to say none of the above. Years ago (pre-kids) I had no trouble sleeping. Then when we had the kids and they became mobile, they would come down the hallway at all hours of the night - every night, waking me up. That's when I became a light sleeper.
Then, about 10 years ago, I changed jobs. It was out of nessecity. The work I was doing moved over to this company. All was good for the 1st couple of years. Then we started getting smaller, the work and the schedule started getting out of hand and my boss became intolerable. This coupled with the demands of the Mrs and kids schedule resulted in me not sleeping well, to the point that I now take perscription drugs and I still don't sleep more than 4 or 5 hours. And it's not a good sleep.
This has been going on for about 7 years. The only remedy is for the kids to get out of the house and to quit my job, neither of which will happen anytime soon. So I don't sleep and I've learned to live with it.
The point here is that you may need to look at external things that are causing your sleep loss and remedy them - or take drugs.
I know that's not much help but you asked.
if I had your email, I could answer this question. I just can't do it here. :)
Gnome: What year? It's a coolio car.
Wendy: YES! Who do we talk to about this? I don't want to look like the walking dead, I just want to sleep like them!
Buzz: Yup, external stuff affects internal stuff, but my life is pretty much the same as it's ever been: Same job. Same workload. Same husband. Same desire to keep him. Maybe a little more familial trouble, with an aging stepfather and other family members to worry about, but not much more than that. Maybe the older you get the less emotional "bounce" you retain?
kym: Will do. At this point I'll try anything. Well, short of wear Crocs or square dancing.
Number 2 - I fall asleep very quickly, but wake up for a multitude of reasons. I'm sorry you're struggling. Insomnia is horrible and our immunity (and mental health) is all tied to getting enough sleep. xoxo.
Shifts in hormones, food, exercise, stress can create havoc in sleep patterns.
well i am a combo of 3,4 and 5. and yes lots of awake is a very surreal state of mind. do not operate heavy equipment. (still thinking bout those B52's)
hate to say it, but *cough* it could be a certain transitioning into the next phase of life.
now, you know my position on the "princess room". this is my retreat to sleep because the big dog is one that lays down and falls right asleep. and snores. loudly.
a tv is NO NO - you cannot not take in the content. it will keep you up.
you know what? the last night on bainbridge i was up all night just watching the ocean of mercury roll in and out...it was beautiful. i dont sleep when i travel.
in italy with my sisters i suffered greatly. i slept in bathtubs, on chapel pews, with toilet paper jammed in my ear. i need to be rich enough to always have my private room.
ambien works =the time release is best but i dont like it that much. i did try a
HOMEOPATHIC
sleep remedy called "simply sleep" and it worked pretty well. try it. and good luck.
My trick was getting a new and wonderful mattress. It has helped my sleep immensely. Never dreamed in a million years (no pun intended, really) that my tossing and turning had to do with being uncomfortable. However, I do like to take an aspirin or other over-the-counter med upon retiring for the evening. Tylenol is better than aspirin, but for sleep not your liver. I try not to resort to the PM ones though unless desperate. I don't function well the next day. I bet your girl hormones are starting to play havoc, maybe read up on that see what it takes to balance them a bit.
*cough* to help ease those hormonal ups/downs, I turned to "Calm Forte".. it's a
(homeopathic) supplement.
and after reading Pam's comment I'm thinking I need a new mattress too.
I haven't slept well since I was a teenager. I've done so many different things from meds, to sleep studies. The only thing that has kept me from losing my mind, is taking the dreaded Ambien. I haven't had any late night shopping episodes, so I'm cool with it. And I get atleast a good five hours sleep with no hangover.
Boxer: It will be interesting to see if my sleep returns to normal after this Half Mary.
K9: An acquaintance of mine had me to her home for lunch last year. During her home tour, she pointed out her bedroom and then her husband's. She saw the shocked look on my face and laughed. Then said: "Separate bedrooms saved our marriage." I'm not quite ready to go there, yet, but I see the attraction for sure.
Pam: For years, we slept in a combo gel/water bed. The ones with the tubes? Heaven. Five years ago, the damn thing sprang a leak and we realized it was time to grow up, buy a bedroom set, and get a real mattress. We bought a Tempurpedic and it's the closest thing to comfort I've felt since our "hippie" bed. In fact, I'm like the Princess and the Pea with anything else. Like K9, I rarely sleep well when I travel. Although I did on Bainbridge – the sound of water lulls me.
Boxer: Herbal, I'll do. Homeopathic, honey, you know where I stand on that. So angry am I about the whole profession, that even the placebo effect won't work on me.
Dani: The hell you say? Ambien causes late night shopping excursions? Sign me up! Seriously, I've taken half an Ambien a couple times in my life when sleep was imperative. I have to say: that's one impressive drug. I fell asleep within minutes, stayed asleep, woke refreshed and energized. But I'm not sure if I need to go that route on a full time basis. Although, it's nice to know the option is there, if I can tolerate it long term. Some folks I know have been on it for years with no problems. Others not so much.
Oh, Ivan. I just want to sqwunch those wrinkles!
I have a sleep disorder so normally it takes me FOREVER to fall asleep but once I do I pretty much stay asleep. Now, I'm taking Lunesta and I fall asleep about 30 minutes after taking it. Hallelujah!
Closest to (1) most of the time.
Don't forget you be THE JUDGE for Friday's CULINARY THROWDOWN!
And a lovely and talented and brilliant Judge at that.
Oh, and how much sleep are you trying to get every night, Moi?
I read recently that's a factor and many people try to get MORE sleep than their body craves. And that results in insomnia.
I use to be a #1,
Now I am a #2
My best night sleep comes following a really hot shower, I take a tylenol and a muscle relaxant before getting in the shower, then I get in the bed and start reading the most boring book in the house ( 500 years of type). I am usually a goner in 10 minutes and am good for the first 5 hours, sometimes 7.
'72. Turquoise with a white vinyl top.
318 V8 and lots of room in the back seat baby!
yeah, # 5 fer Aunty.
Uncle swears by melatonin.
I tried some lavender cream at the temples--soothing and restful, but not sleep.
WIsh ya the best--an hope you'll share the recipe fer the solution that works best --iffin' ya test drive 'em all.
uh, what Buzz said, minus the drugs--sometimes, ya jess' learn to go wif' the flow--five hours will git it done, ain't purty, but suffices.
An' I goes wif the dawg on the Princess Room-- an word to the K9: try sleepin in a nun's cell in Italy next trip--quiet an' it's cheap.
I'm currently at Number Two and NOT a morning person. I've tried melatonin which put me to sleep, gave me wild assed dreams but eventually stopped working. I'd like to try the Ambien if it helped giving me a good night's sleep and not feel so run down during the day. I wonder what's it's like for astronauts to sleep in weightlessness?
Heather: I know, he be so cute, we can hardly stand it! Wow, so many folks with problems just like mine!
Troll: Nope, didn't forget, but do need to know the particulars, like when do I make my proclamation? The weekend? Monday? As for sleep, I'm a way early riser, so I'm not asking for anything crazy. I'd be happy with a solidly slept through seven hours.
Fishy: I read before bed, too. Problem is, it's my only time TO read, so the books aren't as boring as they probably should be.
Gnome: Be still my heart. I'm a goner for coolio cars.
Aunty: You, too? I would have thought you slept like a baby. Go figure. Seems to be sleep disorders are pretty much the norm?
Shamu: I tried a half a 1mg of melatonin the other night. You're right: crazy ass dreams! I do believe that's quite the common side effect. Anyhoo, put me right to sleep. For about four hours. Grrrrrr.
Moi,
As Judge, that's all up to you. I just notified the winners at their blogs the next day if I remember correctly.
Seems to me that somebody could make a killin' by havin' a bookstore open 10 pm-10am. Fer night owls.
I used to wander about iffin' I got attacks of the monkey-mind ( brain never shuts up!) Jes' git in mah car an drive, or go to the all night pharmacy an' look at make-up. Eat eggs an' read a book at 3 am at some sorry diner like Denny's....but Uncle said times ain't what they wuz so that is over.
Now I blog.
Troll: Okey dokey!
Aunty: Wow, see, that's like having a whole other life! I don't do anything but lay there in frustration. I guess I should just get up. Although, I've slept well these past couple nights. This thing comes and goes with me.
Good afternoon Moi,
It used to be I could sleep through anything, these days it's #2. I nod off quickly, two or three hours later slightest noise will wake me up, sometimes I get back to sleep, sometimes I don't.
My wife and I have tried sleeping in separate rooms when or the other can't seem to sleep, we usually find the separation more bothersome than the restless sleeper. If we travel separately neither one of us sleeps well.
Karl: I hear ya. We tough it out, too :o)
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