This is my nemesis – INSOMNIA.
It’s 2:30am and I haven’t slept a wink since going to bed 4 hours ago.
Instead my mind has taken over and gone on a rambling trail rehashing the day’s event… going over all the things I did say, and the things I didn’t say, throughout the course of the day… hypothetically fixing all the woes in my world… updating my to-do list… dictating Facebook posts (hence this one!)… don’t forget to visit Mum… what do I need from the shop… what will I cook tomorrow…and, not only, but also...why the heck am I still awake?
My body is wired with these intense thoughts, and counting sheep doesn’t even get a look in! Every time I near sleep, my body jolts me back into the abyss of my mind chatter.
The culprit, on this occasion, is 3 pieces of dark chocolate, supposedly ‘good’ for me with its damn anti-oxidants! It is also full of caffeine! Said chocolate was consumed, rather surreptitiously, in the late afternoon …a recipe for disaster don’t I know it…but oh so needed at the time!
Due to a period of sustained stress in my life, my adrenal glands have gone into warp 9 overdrive producing cortisol (stress hormone – ‘fight or flight’) to peak in the middle of the night, instead of the daylight hours as in most 'normal' human beings.
This is known as our Circadian Rhythm where Cortisol and Melatonin (sleep hormone – ‘rest and digest’) work in opposite directions according to light stimulus – Cortisol peaks during the day and Melatonin is deceased. As night time approaches, the fading light stimulates Melatonin production and Cortisol production is decreased, allowing for our bodies to wind down and prepare for sleep.
My Circadian Rhythm is, unfortunately, shot!
Caffeine added to high cortisol and ‘ping’ – eyes wide open and brain is…ON! Beautiful, restful, restorative sleep is now elusive.
So, now, I’m writing down the words to empty my head. I’ve taken a spoonful of honey, as it’s rich in an amino acid, tryptophan, which regulates blood sugar levels and aids sleep. I’m drinking a cup of my Relaxation Tea blend and I’m about to listen to a guided meditation specifically for inducing sleep (Insight Timer App). Pulling out all stops here, as some, or all, of these usually work in getting me back to sleep. I need to signal my body that it’s now time to rest and relax.
I’ve been finding that many people suffer from sleep issues, whether it’s actually getting to sleep, or the inability to stay asleep. It seems all too common that we are just not getting the amount of sleep we need to rest and repair the body, and lay down the building blocks for our memory – an important part of the sleep cycle.
Melatonin can be supplemented, taken just before bedtime to induce sleep, but I’ve found this actually works against me and can have totally the opposite effect!
Who the hell gets a full 8 hours of shuteye, anyway? Conspiracy Theory, I say! I'm sure the good 'Research people' just want to keep us sleep-challenged folk feeling inadequate! 🤔😉
Do you have insomnia or difficulty with your sleep patterns?
You are not alone!
What sleep hacks have you tried?
Please share, I would love to hear what has or hasn't worked for you.
Goodnight!🌛⏰🛏️💤
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