Insomnia
January 20, 2007 by laura
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
I mentioned on my earlier post today, that I am currently suffering from insomnia. I have slept 3.5 hrs in about 11 days. I know how very impossible this sounds, but I just can’t seem to sleep. I am barely managing to function. Well let me rephrase that. At work, during the day, I am barely functioning. At night (and the early morning hours), I don’t function at all. I am in a completely different state. A state of non awareness…..but I am not sleeping.
So I try to busy myself with activities during these non sleeping times. I am not exactly awake enough to watch television, nor am I coherent enough to read a book.
But here is a list of things that I have been doing :
I have cleaned my apartment so much that it sparkles (my bathroom doesnt do that yet – but I am just one clean away from winning the cleanest bathroom ever award).
I have rearranged my living room furniture about 4 times, each time rearranging my bookshelf as well.
Listened to my ipod for about 18 hours (during the nonsleep times) – Mostly I have been switching between Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell, but they aren’t helping me sleep.
I have cooked and froze enough meals to last me two weeks
I have meditated every single night
Wrote a reduction analysis, on 3 of the pieces, that I am currently studying on guitar (its a music thing)
I have attempted 6 blog posts in the middle of the night, but I deleted each one because it didn’t make any sense
I have unmade and then remade my bed 3 times everynight, thinking that I just didn’t make it well enough to promote proper sleeping – yes I am really that neurotic
I have woken up a friend and made him drive all the way out here, so we could go on after midnight neighborhood walks – I did this twice. And I think I am one call away from him, not being my friend anymore
Two attempts at some yoga exercise
As you see, I have a whole lot of extra time on my hands lately. Can any of you give me some more ideas, either on helping me sleep,or at least something to do to kill some time. Things you might need to know about me, before providing me with advice.
I am not yet desperate enough to go and see my doctor about giving me some pills (either sleeping pills or antidepressants) to help me sleep. Nor will I take an over the counter sleeping aid (as I am afraid that I won’t wake up in time to go to work). Oh and if you think that now is a good time to take up a hobby….I am not at all crafty.
Hopefully sleep will happen naturally for me soon. Tonight I am going to break out some wine, and see if I can coerce it into happening tonight.
In the meantime, all suggestions are welcome.
Thanks.
Hi Laura, sorry to hear about your insomnia. I’ve got a touch of it at the moment too, but thankfully not to your degree.
You’ve tried just about everything I could suggest, but here’s a couple of things to try:
1) nice mug of warm (not hot) milk, sprinkle some nutmeg on if you fancy it.
2) catch up with some old emails or forums
3) watch an old (pre-2002) movie and laugh at how crummy the graphics are
4) learn a language (loads of podcasts out there) – try German, the verb formations alone should put you out like a light
5) try hypnosis, kinda like meditation but deeper and directed (I know a couple of good guys – email me for details)
6) take photos of your street on the hour every hour and submit the portfolio to a local gallery (good way to get some press on CFS)
7) take advantage of the situation – awake time it chocolate time!
Nathan,
I love your ideas. Especially number 6. I hadn’t thought of doing that. Genius!!!! I will make sure to do it, if this insomnia continues.
I don’t exactly have the brain power to learn a language,when I am this exhausted….but if I get a surge of energy (and intellect) I will try it.
Will hypnosis actually help me sleep? I am going for an acupuncture session tomorrow….I was thinking he could adjust my chi to fix the insomnia thing.
Thanks again for your brilliant suggestions.
How are you during the day? When I was really “unwell” in the summer my day and night got switched… I believe it was due to hormone imbalance with my adrenal glands (I had other symptoms as well). Their levels are the highest in the morning when you get up and then deplete through out the day. If you’re out of whack, they get high at night and you feel like it’s day and therefore its difficul or impossibel to sleep…I don’t know how to fix it but it’s very interesting to have some science for it. There is more information on this if you research Addison’s disease. It’s intersting and will give you something to do in the middle of the night if you need it!
Hypnosis can certainly help sleep, either by specific suggestions to your mind while hypnotised but I was actually thinking along the lines of the meditation you’re already doing.
Hypnosis is essentially an altered state of conciousness where the mind is very, very relaxed. Whenever I do a short (15-30 minutes) hypnosis session I almost get more benefit from the relaxation, and of course a break from all the lovely things that go along with a life of Fibromyalgia, than I do from the “re-programming” or whatever positive change in my life the session is focused on. At the moment I’m doing at least one session a day on various topics including self-confidence, pain management, general relaxation etc.
Two things that tend to keep me awake: cold feet or hands, and pain.
I take Ibuprofen every night as a pain preventative, since I never know until I’m in bed what my pain level REALLY is.
I wear socks to bed. I read someplace that your feet and hands need to be at a certain temperature before you’ll fall asleep. If I don’t wear sox, I know my cold feet keep me awake.
If you’re a knitter, I have a good patter for easy bed sox. Knitting itself is relaxing and sleep0inducing.
i used to have major insomnia, i take 1 kolonopin and 2 benadryl every night before bed. I have been taking that for about 5 years. As long as i take that i can sleep really well. But i was just like you before i started taking those pills. You should try benadryl, it safe and over the counter
I second the warm milk suggestion. I am not much of a milk drinker, but I often go for a few gulps of it if I am having real trouble sleeping. Your lavender tea should also be a help, as will chamomile.
Oh, and hard as it is, you should try not to worry about it. The more you worry about not sleeping the harder it is to sleep.
I hope you start sleeping better soon.
Hi Laura.
I had incredible insomnia. I found lifestyle changes, diet, rest during the day, Exercise int eh day and yoga poses and magnesium got me to sleep but it took a year to get my circadian rhthym right.
The post about adreanal stress is right on. I had a saliva adrenal test that showed my cortisol level was not normal in the morning or night. Go see an integrative doctor who uses both traditional and alternative tests to check out how to help you.
Thanks you guys for all of the great ideas. I am 90% sure that my insomnia is due to stress. Maybe I am naive in thinking like this, but I believe that when I come to terms with what is happening in my life, I will be able to sleep. Lets hope this is the case, and that I will deal very soon.
Jeannie – thanks for all of the advice. You were a huge help today (just talking about this stuff, was a big release – and I think its my best chance for getting some sleep.
Nathan – I am not quite sure on the hypnosis thing. I am going to email you, so you can clarify things a bit for me. Thanks for all of the advice…I am just crazy about your suggestions.
Rowdy – I too have problems sleeping if my feet are cold. But, alas this is not the problem this time. I have been known to wear fuzzy pink slippers to bed though. I am not a knitter (since I am not at all crafty), but feel free to send me the pattern, and if its ok with you, I will post it on here.
Jim – what happens if you stop taking your bedtime cocktail (1 kolonopin and 2 benadryl)? Will the insomnia return? I would be interested to hear more about this.
Ellie – I have kind of stopped the milk thing for now, do you think soy milk will give the same effect? While the lavender and chammomile teas have helped reduce some of the uptightedness, its not helping me sleep…but will keep on trying. I did however check out some aromatherapy today (thanks to you and Jeannie), and will see if this helps. I will keep you posted.
Elizabeth – Magnesium!!!! I totally forgot about how beneficial this can be. Unfortunately I am not in a position where I can rest during the day…but I can incorporate a few of the changes you have suggested….
I promise, that if the insomnia continues I will go see my doctor and have this checked out. I am not interested in going on a downward spiral. I have worked way too hard to be able to lead a somewhat normal life. Thanks again everyone for such great suggestions.
If you’re up for a potential aromatherapy solution try the following:
Mix: 6 drops lavender, 6 drops clary sage, 4 drops marjoram or chamomile, 1 tablespoon of a vegetable or nut oil (almon, grape seed, jojoba, macadamia, even olive will do at a pinch). Then massage a little on your temples, or add 2 teaspoons to a warm (not hot) bath.
Essential oils are expensive (often $20 to 30 for a 12mL bottle) but they are worth it. Chamomile is especially expensive, so I would probably suggest going for the marjoram instead and accompanying the bath or massage with a chamomile tea. The lavender oil should be cheap though.
Best of luck!
These are good solutions and ideas. I have to say that I sew a great post and a smart writer behind it!
Ellie, thanks for the idea. I got a little blend from the neighborhood aromatherapy store, and while it didnt technically help me sleep. It did help me relax a lot.
Alice, awww thanks!
I do have the very best people reading this blog….but its always nice to hear that someone enjoys what I write about
**UPDATE! I finally started getting some quality sleep after 2 weeks. I think the trick was to just accept the non sleeping for what it was, and not worry about it. because eventually, you are just going to have to sleep – due to exhaustion. And so now once again, I am almost great.
I used to suffer pretty badly with insomnia. I’ve now found myself a little pattern that helps nearly every night, in fact, my MP3 player is my little sleep saver!!
I find it best if I don’t force myself to sleep but instead let it come naturally. For that reason I don’t go to sleep until my body feels sleepy, not tired, but sleepy.
Then I’ll turn out the lights, put my MP3 player on and jump around a bit, do a bit of dancing (in the dark, where no-one can see you ;o) ) and then gradually I find I get a bit more tired so I’ll lie on the bed and listen a bit more sitting up, then I feel the need to lie down in bed or on bed making my way further and further in sleepiness. Then I’ll turn the MP3 player off as a slow song has finished. Can never do it in the middle of the song, I tried a few times the song just ends up going round and round in my head.
Then within five minutes I’ve normally dropped off to sleep. =)
This is after years and years of lying awake tossing and turning. I just it’s all about finding the best bedtime routine for you personally.
My best approach to insomnia is to read, my little snap on booklite gets a good workout without waking my partner. If 15-30minutes of bed reading fails I head to the couch with my blanket and warm milk. As far as aromatheraphy I use sprinkle of lavander.
Sweet dreams
Elena,
Dance Party! I LOVE IT!!!!
Actually its one of the methods I use as well. Although I don’t do it before bed…maybe I should try it.
I do have moments when I will have an energy surge in the middle of the night – which is when I put on some vinyl on the record player and jump around like crazy. It wears me out enough so I just collapse.
I only do it on the weekends though….it seems a little to umm primitive for the work week.
Lynn,
thanks for your sweet note. Most of the time, I am not exactly coherent enough to be able to read when I am in my insomniac mode.
However this morning was an interesting one. Woke up at 1 am- ish – feeling ready to totally start my day. If this continues, then I will be able to catch up on my reading in no time at all.