Dare I say it, a good romp with hubby and we’re both off to dreamland.

I’ve had trouble falling asleep for most of my life, it seems. Here are but a few of the things I try:

A very HOT shower, followed by a few stretching exercises

A not-too-exciting yet engaging book

Soft music in the background

Several strategically located candles, usually in a mild vanilla scent

A good little black cat to cuddle with

Deep breathing and meditation

And when all else fails … medication (but not Ambien, which caused me to sleepwalk, sleepcook, sleepmanicure, and sleepwrite; yep, there’s a long story behind all that!)

 

 

1 Sominex with a chaser of Nyquil. Knocks me out everytime!

I’ve also had chronic insomnia my whole life and have tried everything.  I FINALLY talked to my doctor about it and she prescribed me Amytriptalene (SP?), 25 mg, right before bedtime.  And has it changed my life!!  I can finally wake up well rested and think clearly.  Lately, I’ve been cutting my pill in half because I’m having a hard time waking up, good problem to have IMO :)

A few years ago, my DH accidently mixed up his medication from mine (they looked similar!) and had the best sleep ever.  So now he’s on it too and loves it.  A little alcohol helps too ;)

I try not to medicate so I take a shower and settle down with a good book. I relax reading for about an hour with the tv off. Usually this will settle my mind for sleep.

snuggle

If I can’t stop the constant thinking, I use a technique that I learned a long time ago. I imagine a blue sheet of paper in front of me. (Mine is sky blue and floats in the forefront of my mind.) I force myself to think of nothing else…focus on the blue page in front of my mind only. And before you know it, I’m completely out. It works if I wake-up too early too. If you’ve tried all other methods to no avail, try this one. It really helps me to clear my mind and makes way for a good night’s sleep!

First I read for about half an hour, and then I visualize my golf swing.

That does it………

Sleeping is my second best talent!  (Eating is my first best.)  I’m not a napper, and I can’t sleep on planes or in cars…but give me a big bed and a boring tv show and I’m out in no time.  A glass of wine speeds up the process even more!  Luckily, hubby can sleep through anything, so the tv doesn’t bother him. 

Well it’s good to know that I’m not alone with my bouts of insomnia.  Some nights I feel as though the whole city is sleeping soundly and I’m the only one awake.  Different things work at different times—reading, stretching, tensing then relaxing my muscles, sleeping on my side with lots of pillows to hug, a warm heating pad or an icepack on my neck….the list is endless.  When my mind just refuses to quiet down, I try to remember all the floorplans of every place I’ve ever lived, starting with my earliest childhood memory and working toward present day.  Usually I’m asleep before I get through all of them.  If I’m still awake after visualizing the floorplan of the house I now live in, then I just get up, take an ibuprofen, stretch out on the recliner in the livingroom and that usually helps.  Oh what I’d give to have the luxury of sleeping like I did when I was young! 

Light a candle (flameless & on a timer), read a few chapters in my current book, & clear my mind by visualizing shutting doors on whatever worries or stressors I’ve. But my best destressor: petting my 2 kittens. The warmth of their bodies & the sounds of their purring drowns out the hubby’s snoring & the world.

BTW…..and the answer is….valerian.

I always wear ear plugs & a sleep mask, and since I sleep hot I have 3 electric fans  and a celiling fan - even in summer with the AC going. I also have a cool foam mattress topper, plus a down alternative mattress topper on top of it, so the bed is wonderful…like a nest. 2 down pillows and 2 under my knees to help my back as I am a back sleeper..it all works. I used to have insomnia regularly, and now I fall asleep almost as soon as I get in bed. Sleeping alone is also a big help, but I’m old so no longer need the closeness