Sleep, Sleep My darling

[Syd Valentine]

Ok, so I haven't been sleeping well at all. Either my kids are waking me up and I can't get back to sleep OR I'm insanely tired but can't stop thinking about s*** long enough for me to pass out.

Anybody else having sleepless nights? What are your suggestions?


(Here are some things I am going to try:)


http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_relief_meditation_yoga_relax...

http://www.well.com/~mick/insomnia/insomnia.24.html

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/insomnia/page8_em.htm#Non-medical

[Syd Valentine]

You are SO full of useful information, Wink! (and cute to boot!) ;)

Wink Holliday said:

A friend of mine swears by valerian. Things that have worked for me include a floppy pillow filled with lavender (real stuff, not icky lavender scent), a toasty warm bed, a cup of hot HERBAL tea with a shot of whiskey or a "steamer" (steamed milk: like a latte, but no espresso; hey that could be tasty with whisky, too), and a dull book. And I agree with Auburn's "ritual" theory. It takes a while for anything to become a ritual, but once it does, it tricks your body into ticking things off. "1. tea, 2. brush teeth, 3. sniff squishy pillow, 4. SLEEP"

And yeah, sometimes nothing works, and I just want to scream at my head to SHUT UP ALREADY!!!

I'd better find me some of that medicinal chocolate! :)

[Syd Valentine]

I agree with Seanna. Your ritual sounds VERY enticing. Maybe if I can combine those four steps with extra Whisky and the chocolate.......

Seanna/Dixie Diamond {M} said:

Oh nice, great idea! That would actually be really easy to make. I have a friend who is handy with the sewing machine and projects like this so I will see if I can get her to make me a pillow that I can stuff! Thanks for the tip :)

Wink Holliday said:

I made the lavender pillow kind of by accident. I bought a small buckwheat hull neckroll on clearance somewhere, and also had a big ol' bag of lavender that I'd gotten from the bulk section of my local health store (also, little muslin bags; I would steep the lavender in the bathtub, like a giant cup of tea). The day I realized that the buckwheat pillow had a zipper for replacing the buckwheat, I filled it up with all of my extra lavender!

Seanna/Dixie Diamond {M} said:

So strange, a lot of people I know say Valerian works for them but I've tried it a few different times and nothing. I guess it's always worth a shot and at least it's herbal. I like your ritual Wink! Just reading it made me want to try them all and curl up with a lavender pillow but, it's only 7pm and I've got to go to work in an hour! What's the trick with that lavender pillow? Did you make it yourself or did you buy it like that?

Wink Holliday said:

A friend of mine swears by valerian. Things that have worked for me include a floppy pillow filled with lavender (real stuff, not icky lavender scent), a toasty warm bed, a cup of hot HERBAL tea with a shot of whiskey or a "steamer" (steamed milk: like a latte, but no espresso; hey that could be tasty with whisky, too), and a dull book. And I agree with Auburn's "ritual" theory. It takes a while for anything to become a ritual, but once it does, it tricks your body into ticking things off. "1. tea, 2. brush teeth, 3. sniff squishy pillow, 4. SLEEP"

And yeah, sometimes nothing works, and I just want to scream at my head to SHUT UP ALREADY!!!

I'd better find me some of that medicinal chocolate! :)

[Poppy Fields]

Valerian doesn't work for me either.
However, melatonin does wonders! Also should be easily available at any drug store.

I second the deep breathing, also visualisation.
My visualisation ritual for when the thoughts/songs/ideas won't stop is to turn them into leaves and float them down the river. Whatever's crap will wash out to see and whatever's good will wash up on shore and be waiting for me when I wake up :)

It takes work to make visualisation/meditation effective. You have to pratice and try different methods/images to find what works for you. Once you get it though, you can play with your "theme" to make it fit anything. I float on the sea, sit in the river, float my thoughts, breathe underwater... :)

[Poppy Fields]

I can see why a bipolar med. would be very effective at stopping ruminations! :)

sfphotojournal said:

Try getting your doctor to prescribe you seroquel.

Very effective at stopping ruminations.

12.5 mg will put you down for at least 8 hrs.