So grateful for all the postings about insomnia. It has been very bad for me the past few weeks, waking up between 12:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. and not being able to fall asleep again. I have stacked different natural sleep remedies which helps but doesn't eliminate the problem. I was really wondering what was wrong with me. I have periodically struggled with insomnia, but never this bad.
When I do get to sleep, I have intense memorable dreams. I have a sister who is very talented about interpreting dreams (though tends to skew towards religious side of things), and she has helped me with dream interpretation. The messages I get have been quite relevant.
I have been aware of the intense energy and have a tendency to attribute it to anxiety, which makes me feel even more anxious and hyperawake. ? Getting additional perspective is helpful! What a challenging time. So glad to have this forum. Thanks everyone.
I listen to this 22 minute meditation tape of Jennifer Percy's Yoga Nidra for Sleep. It has over 3 million views. Her voice is perfect. I've heard it so many times, that now I don't have to listen to it any more. I let it play in my head. I'm usually out in the first five minutes, but once I was so stressed that I had to listen to the whole thing twice before I got some sleep.
Other tips:
- I also sometimes do well with a mug of hot milk.
- I avoid bright lights.
- I try to go to bed when I first feel tired. If I stay up past that, then I start getting a second wind and that is not good. It might be a second wind based on adrenaline.
- I sometimes, though very. rarely, take a melatonin. But others I know take it more often. I wonder if that is not good to do. It may be just a hormone, but it is a strong substance.
Oh my best thing is to pretend I'm back in college and have a math test that I must stay up study for. I suddenly feel just so sleepy.
I haven't personally had any trouble sleeping lately, but for what it's worth--- on the occasion where I do wake up with the "3 AM Paranoia", I simply *remind* myself that it's 3 AM and that it is, after all, "Official Paranoia Hour". I'll get up, go to the bathroom, drink some water, etc., and remind myself that things will look very different in the morning, because they always do (at least in my experience). I might read a bit to distract myself. The worst thing to do is to lie in bed awake dwelling on the feelings.
@frank Well that explains why I am drawn to making a form of clear borscht this time of year. For anyone who would like to try it here is the recipe.. it is pleasing to eye and delicious to the palate and comforting to the soul. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/winter-borscht-recipe-1922800 I sometimes leave shreds of roast beef in the broth to enrich it.. but.. it's good with just the broth also. I always feel I am eating rubies :-)
An October baby I revel in this time of year, the quality of the light, the way the flora and fauna are behaving and doing. My last resident hummingbird of the year took off last night after a final feast at the feeder rested and sipped all afternoon at the feeder and as dusk crept over the yard lifted in flight and looked in at me watching through the window and chittered good-bye see you in the Spring and I whispered back Godspeed little one, blessings and protection go with you.
I actually bought some of the blue light filtering eyeglasses and it seems to be helping. I have had no trouble sleeping... leaving the windows wide open for the coolness and cuddling with kitties in the warm toasty bed and sending out prayers of Light and Love I drift away as I "follow" the beams of Light I am sending out. Next thing I know? it's morning! I actually am finding myself more and more at peace with each passing day.... we've got this. We can't get it wrong. We will do and be...what we came here to do and be.. no matter what goes on around us. ❤️
@fran Regarding lavender, I didn't realize that it relaxes, but I made some creme and added lavender oil and I find myself slathering it all over me before bed. I love the aroma. Perhaps add it to the washing machine when I do the pillow cases too?
@jeanne-mayell absolutely! It really helps. Psychiatrists have told me it’s got properties that activate melatonin in your brain, which helps you sleep.