Everyday Mindfulness

So this week is about prioritising getting enough sleep.

I'm sure it is something most of us could do with more of and having spent the night dozing fitfully on the sofa I know I certainly do. One of the things that really bugs me about post brain haem life is severe fatigue coupled with severe insomnia - just a bit mean!

Still 10pm bedtime and a warm drink for me tonight and I'll see how I get on....

Hi Fee,

I had insomnia for ages and found an insomnia site/ forum that helped me amazingly well http://www.insomnialand.com
(Tho, as a warning, it wasn't the "sleep tracks" (which you can buy there) that helped - what helped was all the site's "free stuff" (the insomnia support - definitely join up for the email program)! Tho, apparently Martin is starting a new CBT Sleep program (which is not free of charge) that sounds pretty good. If you're thinking of spending $, I'd recommend that over the sleep tracks...)
I was lucky to have a fellow insomniac in the forum at the time, who I could work through the entire process with (it takes several months, really)... The forum is usually pretty darn quiet, cos there's not enough ppl there at any given time - but it's worth a try!

I was really busy last week, so I didn't get the chance to pick up the JOT book to check out this week's topic and only saw it just now, when I saw your post. I'm (sickenly) happy to report that not only did I get enough sleep last night (which as you say, isn't guaranteed, most of us skimp on sleep these days) but I also had a nap at lunchtime, cos I had a spare hour between two work projects and I thought "Well, I think I will actually have a nap!"

So there you go, I've been meeting this week's goal, without even realising it!

I kind of worry now, tho, that I will jinx myself knowing this week's goal/ task is "sleep".

From my time at the Insomnia Land website, I know that the single WORST thing you can do is to TRY to sleep, or to "expect" to sleep, or to put yourself under pressure to sleep, etc...

Sleep, like so many things is "all in the mind" and trying to sleep is the best way of playing the mind-game of not being able to sleep. (Well, at least for insomniacs.)

So I'm curious to see how this week will go now, sleep-wise...

I must email my ex-insomnia friend (we still keep in touch - overcoming insomnia together is such a bond!!) and tell her that my JOT task for the week is "sleep" - she'll get a laugh out of that!

Wishing my JOT friends a sleepy week!

XXX Janey

My insomnia is caused by the damage my brain took during the haem so even though I take quite strong sedatives I don't sleep enough or well. I was taught good 'sleep hygiene' in rehab but I also worked on accepting there was a limit to ways I could 'fix' it.

Totally agree that putting pressure on going to sleep in totally counter productive. I can remember a long time ago laying in bed thinking furiously 'I MUST sleep, I MUST sleep NOW' and then wondering why it wasn't working

A mug of Horlicks before bed does the trick for me. I also find the sound of my spaniel Banjo snoring next to me like a bulldozer warming up strangely soothing.
I've got immense sympathies for insomnia-sufferers. If I don't get my eight and a half hours I'm like Charles Manson on a bad day.

JonW wrote: If I don't get my eight and a half hours I'm like Charles Manson on a bad day.

Haha, yep! Me too!

FeeHutch wrote:My insomnia is caused by the damage my brain took during the haem so even though I take quite strong sedatives I don't sleep enough or well.

That's pretty interesting (from a medical perspective). From a personal perspective, it sounds horrible, of course! Did the Dr's explain to you why/ how the damage interferes with sleep? (I'm excruciatingly curious on all medical riddles (especially anything to do with the brain), so please excuse my asking!!)

They probably did but I have memory issues so I can't really remember I think it is something to do with messages not being transmitted or received properly as they had to crack me open and rummage around in there

I stopped staying up late (watching TV or surfing internet) a year or more ago. I find it much nicer to retire early (10pm ish) and read in bed. Most nights I have no problem falling asleep although if anxious I can have problems with fitful sleep for a couple of hours then waking up again.

I sometimes suffer from 'restless legs' but can usually find a way to relax to overcome this.

When I am on holiday in strange bed, its harder to sleep but a body scan often does the trick or at least provides rest and relaxation.

I like to go to bed early so that I can get up early (6 ish) so I don't have to rush in the morning. Time to myself (while rest of household sleeps) get the washing up done, breakfast, read, shower, meditate and then off to work in a relaxed frame of mind. This is a great way to start a day and is so much better than getting up 30 mins before I need to leave and rushing round like an idiot and feeling stressed the rst of the day. My teenage son somehow manages to do it in 15 mins (but usually only catches his school bus by the skin of his teeth!).

I've been trying to notice when I feel tired and avoiding pushing myself then or just doing something which requires little thinking (tidying up etc).

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Steve

Well in typically contrary fashion, my sleep has been appalling even by my own standards this week! I normally aim for around 10pm too but as the kids have been on half term so no need to get up early it's been any old time.