Tired Nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep!
He, like the world, his ready visit pays
Where fortune smiles; the wretched he forsakes
- Edward Young 1683 - 1765
I do believe that sleep must be the greatest gift we possess. I have never been a good sleeper. I envy those who nap during the day. The truth is this: I simply do not sleep. I've never napped. And falling asleep each evening is not something that happens normally and easily.
I've had bouts of insomnia my entire life. As a child, I could not fall into a precious deep slumber. My poor parents acknowledged I was a handful trying to lull me off to sleep as a child. As a teenager, I read till late into the evening until I wafted off to sleep. As an adult I battle with half sleeps and fits of REM sleep, but rare is the night that I enjoy a full night's rest. My average is around five hours, but I can do 3-1/2 to 4 hours and feel perfectly fine. I know this is not normal but it's as normal as I ever hope to be.
It wouldn't bother me much save the rings of fatigue that are now tattooed under my eyes. I've tried all the natural methods prescribed to induce sleep--they are hopeless in achieving that blissful transcendental slumber that translates into rest. I won't take pharmaceuticals. It seems a pointless band aid for providing temporary relief when I'm attuned to decades of sleeplessness. I can't imagine a lifetime on Ambien.
Thomas Edison was famously a non-sleeper. His three hours a night resulted in astounding productivity. And let's not forget another notorious insomniac, Alexandre Dumas. He produced 1,200 volumes of literature and claimed to have fathered 500 children - certainly something to think about in those unasked-for extra hours. The key is this--I am no pioneer or historian so I can't presume brilliance will result from my lack of sleep, Yet, there is something oddly comforting knowing that a great person wrestled with the same dumb shit that you do.
So here I lie, sleepless yet again. I'm taking the ritual cup of green tea, soaking my feet in eucalyptus salts, a warm bath and a little NPR on the radio. I keep hoping that it will be the recipe that sends me into an untold slumber.
You know, six hours.
7 comments:
I remember you reading volumes of Hollywood history during your late night bouts with sleeplessness and how you had an even more difficult time sleeping when one of the legends would pass away. I was always amazed at how you could still get up at 4:00am.
C&W have you tried Chamomile tea?
If that doesm't work take a lavendar
bath, with lavendar bath salts with lavendar extracts not lavendar fragrance. Then have s cup of Chamomile tea.
My son struggles with the same thing-always has. I used to put both of my boys to bed, but find a game laid out on the floor in the morning because my oldest couldn't fall asleep.
We've seen doctors, but you're right, CW, they only suggest sleeping pills. I have no medical training but even I know that's a bad idea.
I have the opposite problem: sleep apnea (my throat closes up, I stop breathing, my brain wakes up just enough to get me breathing again. I never get into the deep REM sleep as a result). I could sleep 12 hours and wake up sleep deprived. I always feel like shit. Hence MY bags and dark circles under the eyes.
Sorry for the long post. You hit on a hot topic at our house!
I'm not a good sleeper either. In fact it takes me 2 sometimes 3 hours to fall asleep at night. I am so tired some days. *yawn*
This explains a lot. I have often wondered how you live the power life you live and still manage to blog so often.
I am the polar opposite. I have always loved to sleep. The stories my mother tells are of worrying about my health when as an infant I slept up to 18 hours a day. She could even change my diaper without me waking. My pediatrician said not to worry. Sleep is more important to her right now. She'll eat when she is hungry.
Right now, I am functioning on 6-1/2 hours a day, but I would so prefer nine!
Also, I am with morewines - go for the chamomile, not the green tea. I once took a vitamin supplement with ECEG (green tea extract) and I was jittery all day. If you don't like the flavor of chamomile, may I suggest Bigelow's Chamomile Mango blend. Tastes as wonderful as it smells!
caryl - please go to the doctor! My husband has sleep apnea too and for the past year he has had a wonderful device called the CPAP machine. It keeps your passages open during the night with a steady flow of air. My DH sleeps so much better now. Sleep apnea is serious business.
yeah, I've been to the doctor. Thanks for your advice. I've had two sleep studies done and an operation on my throat. The C-PAP doesn't seem to help me, but we're going to try something else.
Post a Comment