Insomnia Thread

[Magrus]

Pammy has them. I know so, because she lost them, and I had them. Then found them and sent them to her. Then, she sent them to said hot girl Lisa, and Lisa kindly thanked me for being sweet and saving her naughty photo's. (Ha..sweet! ) Then...hard drive got fried. Just need to find Pammy. Crazy little circle of females.

Is it wrong to hit on your ex from sheer boredom that was attempting to fix your last relationship with another girl?

[Cuchulain82]

Absolutely not. As a matter of fact, I would say it is encouraged. Hooking up with an ex is one of the best ways to really bring closure to a relationship- it is also a great way to stir things up, so be wary!

If I'm always posting in the insomnia thread from 9-5 when I'm at work, does that mean that you have been awake for the whole night Mag, or do you drift off for a while in the wee hours of the morining?

[Magrus]

I generally nod off for an hour or two during the night before the baby get's here, and then an hour or so after she leaves. Most of the night I read though. Keeps me from getting too loopy having at least a few hours of sleep spread out through the day.

*chuckles* Oh, there was most definately closure the last time. Except, the girl's matured and actually uses her brain now. Hmm, maybe I'll have something to do later on then.

[Cuchulain82]

Ugh, I couldn't live like that. I sleep like a baby every night. That shouldn't be surprising though, my Dad is a narcoleptic, so maybe I'm just lucky like that!

Mag, if you're up there in the frozen tundra, in Indian country, awake all the time, what do you do? I know you spam a ton, but are you there for school/job/life...?

Edit- And I don't mean "what do you do" in reference to the ex-gf

[Magrus]

Ha, it really sucks, and it's part of the reason I can't work. The health problem's inherant in extended sleep deprivation and some other things make it dangerous for me to do that jobs available to me, and ludicrous for me to consider PAYING for school. I just can't remember anything new in the first place so there's no use teaching me anything.

I watch my friends baby for her, that's simple enough to do, and I've been doing that for different people since I was little so I know that quite well. It keeps me out of trouble most of the week since I have to be here at 8:30 am no matter what.

Other than that, I'm just waiting to see whether or not my doctor's were right about my future and my health. That, is a whole different topic though.

[Magrus]

So, it's 4 am. I put away close to a bottle of vodka tonight and decided to try getting sleep. Suddenly, I was hit with memories of my dead ex Cassie. Now, I'm terribly emotionaly and can't sleep. So, I'm at a loss to do. I'm not going back to drinking. I drink to have fun, and if I'm in desperate need of sleep, to get drunk enough to pass out. I refuse to get drunk to bury pain. That's just a horrible path to head down.

Yet, every time I think I'm over what happened, it comes back to haunt me and I realize I'm not. It hurts, and the feelings I had for the girl haven't changed with time and with her being gone. Maybe it's the liqour, who know's, but still, that isn't what's keeping me awake. Quite the contrary.

This not sleeping thing gets to be quite irritating.

[Denethorn]

I wonder if he managed some sleep .

Must be awful, I sleep a baby too most of the time , but every now and then I just can't put my mind to rest, and end up reading until insane times in the morning. Funny how important sleep, and regular sleep patterns are to us - it can be surprising to learn that 10 hours of sleep is one of the three pillars of bodybuilding

[Athena]

Thank You for inventing this thread, Magrus. The discussion here is quite interesting.

[Magrus]

Your welcome, I could demonstrate some of that you know.

[Athena]

Shall we?

[Magrus]

Ha, wouldn't you be useful for when I can't sleep.

[Athena]

Bet your comp I would

[Magrus]

Ha. You wouldn't end up getting much sleep either then.

[thantor3]

Earlier in this thread, I witnessed Fable and CE agreeing with each other. I found this terrifying and thus I now have insomnia.
Therefore, I thought I would post a handout I often give my patients on how to get a good night's sleep.

Sleep Hygiene
According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 40 million Americans suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders each year, and an additional 20 million experience occasional sleeping problems. Insomnia tends to increase with age and affects about 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men. Since sleep is as critical a component of health as diet, it is important to learn healthy sleep habits or what is called good “Sleep Hygiene.”

Listen to your body
· Your body pays attention to certain signals that help it establish when to sleep and when to wake up. For example, your body keys into a drop in your body temperature as a signal that it is time to sleep. For this reason, hot showers, hot tubbing, or vigorous exercise is not recommended within 3 hours of bedtime. For people that have body temperature issues, you can try taking a hot bath 90 minutes before bed to raise your body temperature, which will lead to an eventual drop in body temperature that may leave you feeling sleepy. Alternately, if you have a zone-type heating/cooling system in your house, set it to maintain a cool temperature in your bedroom. Since your body temperature needs to fall in order for you to sleep, it is important that your room not be too hot or that the number of bed coverings do not make you feel overheated.

· Your brain produces a chemical called melatonin that helps to regulate sleep. Melatonin is sensitive to light levels, so keeping room lights low before bed can be helpful. Some sources recommend not having a bright clock or clock radio close to your face when sleeping. Others suggest turning off the TV or computer 1 hour before bed, both because of the light and because these devices tend to energize the mind, making your body more alert at a time you want to be drowsy. On the other hand, it is useful to expose yourself to at least 15 minutes of daylight or full-spectrum light at the start of the day, which will make you feel more alert.

Work with your natural rhythms
· Given that your body has certain cues that help it know when to sleep and when to wake up, it is important to develop sleep rituals that work with these. Choose a bedtime and rising time that fit with your lifestyle and schedule. It is particularly important to get up close to the same time each day, since this is a basic way your body sets its “inner clock.” If you are having sleep problems, try to rise at the same time each day no matter how poorly you have slept or whether it is your day off.

Create a superior sleep environment
· It is important to make your bedroom as dark, comfortable, and quiet as possible. Your bed, sheets, and pillows should all have the feel, firmness, and weight that is right for you. The look and color of your bedroom (e.g. inviting vs chaotic) can also be an important component. Make sure your blinds or drapes are sufficient to block out early morning sun, since light can disrupt melatonin levels and wake you prematurely.
· If noise is a problem, consider purchasing a “sound machine” that generates natural sounds from sources such as rain, ocean, streams, etc. A monotonous “white” noise generator like a fan can also work in this regard. This can help block out unpleasant external noise as well as internal noise, as is the case with people who have tinnitus or “ringing in the ears.” In extreme situations, like a partner who snores loudly or who coughs through the night, you may need to consider other sleeping arrangements, at least temporarily.


Sleep Behaviors
· If possible, sleep only when you are sleepy, since this reduces the time you lie awake (and often irritated) in bed. If you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes, get up and do a quiet activity such as reading until you are sleepy. Try not to expose yourself to bright light while you are up.
· Try to avoid napping. If you must nap, the ideal time for a nap is for a period of 15 to 30 minutes before 3pm. This will help ensure you do not disrupt your night-time sleep.
· Only use your bed for sleeping and sex. This helps to condition your body to sleep once you lay down in bed. Refrain from using your bed to watch TV, pay bills, do work, or even read.
· Consider establishing a before-bed routine, which can include meditation, prayer, relaxation, gentle yoga stretches, or some other relaxing activity. It is not necessarily the case that simply going unconscious will assure you of restful, quality sleep.
· Your body needs the bulk of its fluid intake in the morning and early afternoon. Trying to make up your fluid intake in the evening is counterproductive and having to get up at night to use the bathroom interferes with your sleep. Even if you go right back to sleep, your sleep cycle has already been disrupted. Experiment with reducing your fluid intake to a minimum after dinner to see if this improves the quality of your sleep.

Medical Issues
· Sleeping medications are the course of last resort. In many cases, the side effects and poor quality sleep that can result from some medications create more problems than they solve. If you need to take sleeping medications, intend to take them for as short a period as possible.
· Regular exercise is recommended to help you sleep well, but the timing of the workout is important. Exercising in the morning or early afternoon will not interfere with sleep. Refrain from exercise at least 3 hours before bedtime.
· Stay away from caffeine, nicotine and alcohol at least 4-6 hours before bed. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that interfere with your ability to fall asleep. Coffee, tea, cola, cocoa, chocolate and some prescription and non-prescription drugs contain caffeine. Cigarettes and some drugs contain nicotine. Alcohol may seem to help you sleep in the beginning as it slows brain activity, but you may end up having fragmented sleep.
· People with blood sugar issues may benefit from having a light snack before bed. If your blood sugar bottoms out during the night, it can interfere with sleep. A combination of protein and complex carbohydrates, such as peanut butter or turkey on whole wheat crackers or apple slices, is the best snack. Turkey contains tryptophan, which acts as a natural sleep inducer. Tryptophan is probably why a warm glass of milk is sometimes recommended by conventional practitioners, but given the number of people with dairy intolerances this is not something we typically recommend.
· If there are medical issues that are keeping you from sleeping, talk to your health care practitioner about it. Issues like pain or menopausal symptoms can often be managed if a comprehensive program is put into place that focuses on maximizing your quality and quantity of sleep.

[Magrus]

Excellent info there, and yes, I was frightened myself.

[Magrus]

I got sleep today. 11 hours of sleep! Woohoo!

Now, if I can do this two or three more days, I should be fine again.

[Magrus]

I am reviving this thread, on the basis that sleep seems to hate me and I want to complain. Anyone out there have any hobbies they can suggest for someone who doesn't sleep?

[DesR85]

Anyone out there have any hobbies they can suggest for someone who doesn't sleep?

Hmm. I usually play computer games, watch TV or read a book whenever I can't go to sleep at night (occurs when I take naps in the afternoons).

[wing]

ever played sudoku? its a pretty fun game. or, maybe a book. they help sleep too. i think ADD and insomnia go hand in hand, cuz at night i cant sleep at all. too many thoughts. no control. im ranting.
im 14, so that means 1. no alcohol, 2. no sex (yet), 3. i probably shouldnt be reading this thread... too late. anyway, to sleep i usually just lay in bed until i fall asleep. takes a while sometimes, but it works.

[Magrus]

Avoid anything having to do with Athena and I on this board little guy.