So glad things are improving, ghandigirl. I detect in your posts a fierce desire to heal. Keep it up! We’re always here for you.
To everyone who deals with chronic sleeplessness: I’m in awe. Although I’ve never dealt with chronic insomnia, twice (first from 2011 to 2012 then from 2015 to 2016) I was enrolled in experimental drug trials. When both trials ended and I stopped taking the drugs, I experienced a week of extreme insomnia and general restlessness in which I only got 1 hour of tangled sleep each night. It felt like psychological torture. The value of those experiences is that they instilled me with deep respect for people who deal with insomnia on and off for years. Sleep really is such a vital thing, and it’s cruel when we can’t get it when we need it most.
@anita I don't know what your spiritual beliefs are now, so this advice may or may not be helpful. But do you ever talk to your spirit guides? And I mean going to a quiet space and actually talking out loud, as if you were confiding to a friend. Because when it's just you and your guides, there doesn't have to be any dogma or formality. Forget the severity of institutional Catholicism. Your spirit guides are ancient friends, and they want to hear what's burdening you so that they can help you. I've only started talking to my guides in the past year, and the process makes me feel less alone, less rudderless. Usually I have these conversations before I go to bed or when I'm alone outside in a natural setting, but also sometimes when I'm driving to work in the morning,
This is great advice, although I'd add that in addition to just talking with your guides, to actually ask for guidance on solving whatever problem you're having. Our free will gives us the freedom (and some would say the burden) of navigating this existance with very little "interference" from those across the veil. It's part of the experience our souls signed up for... However, it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. One of the lessons we're here to learn is that we are not alone, not seperate. To realize, in fact, that everything and everyone is connected and a part of Love expressing itself in infinite ways. One of the most amazing ways of learning this lesson is asking for guidance on solving a problem and then watching as, suddenly, everything starts to fall into place. You may start getting an urge to do something you've never considered before; a friendly stranger might tell you about an experience they've had; you might stumble on an article with great insights; or the answer may just pop into your head one day as in "Go do this." In any case, you may come out the other side feeling like "Wow, how did that turn out to be so simple?"
In fact, a great, kind of all encompassing thing to ask for is "Guidance so that my life may flow for the Greatest and Highest Good"
@anita I was also raised catholic, so if your belief system doesn't include the concept of spirit guides, it's fine to just ask Jesus, The Virgin Mary, the saint of your choosing, or even God for the same type of guidance. If it seems wierd asking God for guidance on something so mundane/small, just realize: Why wouldn't an omnicient, omnipresent, all loving God be willing (and more than able) to guide his beloved children?
@triciact, thanks for the sound machine link. What is brown or pink noise? I have a very old machine from years ago. It sometimes has static, so I think it's about to die. It has about 8 settings (rain, ocean, etc.), including white noise. The white noise seems to work the best for me. The crickets setting drove me crazy. (That's the city girl in me.) I purchased another machine but had to give it away; it always sounded like someone was talking. My husband heard it too. Spooky.
Regarding your post on friendship and energy drain: It really resonated when you stated “If we aren't surrounded by a lot of friends sometimes we do put up with ones who aren't really best for us.” That certainly has been true in my case. What I’ve come to realize recently is if you’re always the one who gives support and aren’t even seen by the other person, that actually feels lonelier than if you are alone!
I’m an introvert so I never needed or wanted a lot of social activity or friends, but I always had a few who were like soul sisters. As I became increasingly ill, I found it difficult to plan things and sometimes to even get out and about. Then a few of my good friends moved away. The others that remained are either like the friend I described earlier, or friends who, for a variety of reasons, aren’t available. I know that they love me, but they don’t have time for me. I’ve come to accept that fact.
Right now I receive most of my support from my husband and this community, for which I am profoundly grateful. Although I do have ongoing health challenges, they are more manageable than they were 5 years ago. Another reason to be grateful.
I would like to find some new gal pals in my area. So … you got me thinking and praying about it. I have faith that the answers and friendships will come.
@ghandigirl, I'm happy to hear that you got some sleep last night. I'm also glad that the polyvagal exercise was helpful.
You're doing all that you can to navigate this difficult time in your life, taking it a day at a time. It sounds like you've got a number of coping mechanisms from which to draw. I understand this is a daily struggle, and I admire your faith and resilience.
May you have a peaceful sleep tonight.
Thank you my friend. I am hopeful.
@ Coyote
You are right. I am fiercely devoted to healing. It is the only way I can justify all of the changes in my life. I am my number one priority. It's self caring, not selfish. Can't give to anyone else if I am empty.
I am just catching up on posts tonight... I hope that you are well on your way to Dreamland (hopefully bypassing Nightmare Town). I'm going to add my 2 cents, I may have posted this before, if so, apologies.
I use Binaural Beats "music" for migraines and insomnia, you just listen calmly with good headphones (no earbuds!) or through a good stereo or bluetooth speaker system - you can even run it thru your TV soundbar if you have one. It readjusts your brain waves. It really works. I'll put the link to my favorite just below. You can convert it to mp3 and download it to your phone or ipod for easy access, or you can download it to a tablet or laptop or desktop (and maybe burn a CD from a desktop if you have that ability). Or you can just stream it and listen. It knocks me out without fail and I never get nightmares while it's on.
I'm still sick, btw, y'all. No fever but it's turned into asthmatic bronchitis. I've finished round 2 of antibiotics, have used up most of my rescue inhaler and and anti-inflammatory inhaler, been through 2 bottles of B&T Nighttime Cough Serum, a bottle of Benadryl and 2 bottles of Guaifenesin. Have been sick more than well since Dec 9, and haven't been sick this long in nearly 20 years.
I think I need a healing booster shot, LOL! Send what you can when you can - just a little oomph, nothing too complicated, thanks and namasté ❤️ ❤️
Ginger and lemon tea with honey might help. I use real ingredients. No tea bags. This can also be taken cold over ice. I also use chopped garlic mixed with a tbsp of flax oil and swallow. Don’t chew or your breath will he horrible. Garlic will kill bacteria. Raw garlic may give a tummy ache on an empty stomach. Take after a meal or with a bowl of soup.
Yes. I listen to delta waves sleep music every night, barely audible on my laptop. I used to listen to the binaural beats music years ago Both help tremendously. :)
I had asthmatic bronchitis years ago. I described it as being kicked in the lungs. I am imagining your lungs pink and healthy. Sending warm blessings and cool air to your lungs. Get well soon.
@laura-f, Good grief ... I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sending you that extra oomph of healing -- using ghandigirl's image of pink, healthy lungs, breathing freely.
My hubby is still sick -- can't quite shake this thing. He's finishing a second round of antibiotics. His doc seems to think it's another bug, but how does he know for sure? My bad respiratory bug is gone, but still feel like I'm fighting a cold (sniffles, fatigue, etc.). So far I'm managing to keep it at bay with homeopathic remedies.
A really tough year for so many people, in so many ways.