Have you ever had a night or two, where you just can't sleep? Why is it that on these nights your brain does not relax but instead decides to process every single thing in your life. It is almost as if your brain overdosed on five hour energy drinks.
Side quick story: Peter and I knew a girl in Augusta who took three 5 hour energy drinks in a row in hopes of getting 15 hours of energy. True story, she did indeed get ALOT of energy, as well as the sensation that her heart was going to explode.
Anyways back to sleep or the lack of in this case. So according to physicians, insomnia or problems staying asleep can be caused by factors such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, excessive caffeine, having a big meal at dinner or prior to sleep time, jet lag, and stress. They also suggest behavior and lifestyle changes or short term use of medications for treatment. One night when I couldn't sleep I did a little research on the topic. Some recommendations were:
1. Positive thinking and visualization of goals
2. Relaxing, meditating and breathing exercises
3. Counting sheep by powers of 2 (Apparently just counting sheep the traditional way is to boring for the brain)
4. Benadryl
5. Plan ahead and mental studying
6. Keep your eyes open
7. Don't get out of bed
8. Don't read or watch tv
9. Pray the rosary (this one was my mom's suggestion)
and the list goes on and on
So I awake on another night and toss and turn for a little bit in hopes of getting comfortable again and falling right asleep, but after what seems like FOREVER I find myself bored and my mind being on super drive. Ok let me go through my list....positive thinking I say to myself, who am I kidding that's part of the problem all I want to do is relax and STOP thinking, I want to stop planing ahead and visualizing my goals. Why would this even be a suggestion! So I attempt to remember the rest of the options. Next on my list counting sheep, who am I kidding again, I am terrible at math I can't even remember what the power of 2 means. Is it increments of 2 or is it that other thing that had the regular number with a small number on the upper right hand corner? Yes! I AM THAT TERRIBLE AT MATH!. That obviously didn't work just got me thinking of more useless stuff such as wondering if knowing how to do "powers" was an important life skill and weather I should ask Peter the next morning to teach me. I also questioned how I got through school without knowing this and why did I end up thinking about this in the first place. Oh right, not being able to sleep. Next attempt, counting sheep the traditional way. That does not help either. I am not sure the case for me is that my brain gets bored, it's simply because I lose focus of the task and forget the number I am on. So I turn to my iphone, not to log unto Facebook or check my e-mail because I am trying to follow the suggested guidelines, I reach for a noise generating APP. The APP plays sounds that are suppose to relax you. Sounds of the beach begin to play and I begin to have hope. I close my eyes and focus on the waves crashing as they reach shore, but then I am flooded with memories of amazing times on the beach and I wonder when I will be at the beach next? Oh how I miss the beach. I roll over to snuggle with Peter, who is dead asleep, but then the sound of the ocean gets dominated by the horrific sound of Peter snoring. I pat him on the side, which is his cue to not lay on his back because he is snoring, and roll back to my side of the bed. Ok let's try the rosary, mom seems to always be right after all, but then I realize I don't remember if I say 10 hail mary's and 1 our father or the other way around......uggggggg at this point its way to late to take benedryl (I def do no want to feel like a zombie tomorrow morning). So I decide to stop the ocean sounds and initiate my itunes. Collective soul starts playing (alternative rock band which was quite popular in the 90's). The world that I know is playing on the background.......zzzzzzzzzzzz
SUCCESS!
Moral of the story: For all you insomniacs, try collective soul music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl0J0K-Tjlc
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