Are You Having Trouble Sleeping?

Melatonin… And so much more!

In my last post, quite some time ago, I said I was going to check out melatonin as a sleeping aide. I did and what I discovered made me decide it wasn’t for me. What I did decide was to take the steps that help my body produce more of the substance itself.

The production of melatonin is effected by light. Even a little light, clock radio, an LCD night light, your neighbors porch light, all of these and any other light source can block your body from producing melatonin.

Melatonin is the body’s natural sleep aide we just need to give it darkness so it can produce.

That basically covers what I felt about what my investigation into melatonin brought to light.

So the question you may ask is, “Are you still having trouble sleeping?”
The answer would be no. I have been sleeping quite well. A dark room helps immensely.

Now on to the “And so much more!”

Since my last post here, my husband, Bob and I have been creating, writing and coaching.

To see our latest creations, check out: www.intentionalprosperity.com and www.romancetrap.com

To read over 200 blog posting on everything from “The Speed of Light” to “Fear of Happiness” go to our blog: The Best Years of Your Life… Now! You can use the search feature on top to find the post that most interests you.

I don’t know when I’ll get a chance to get back here, so if you want to keep up with me, join me at either of the sites above.

Take care and darken up your room for a good nights sleep,

Gwen Baran

Old Photographs - Memories - Why Sleep

I was looking through some old photographs and the memories that came welling up left me saying to myself, “Why sleep?” Life is too short. You’ve heard the saying, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” I just ran across a photo of someone who lived life to the fullest and now, I guess he’s sleeping.

If you are familiar with the original “Jesus Christ Superstar” then you may remember this man. He played Judas. His name was Carl Anderson and he was one of the most amazing jazz vocalists I have ever heard. In 2004 just 4 days shy of his 58th birthday he left this world and we are poorer for it. Fortunately his legacy of amazing music and film stays behind to enrich our lives.

The reason I was into those particular old photos is I was looking for pictures of when I was doing massage backstage in Southern California. It was the late 1980’s and I had followed my passion into a number of wonderful situations. My passion? Bringing relief to musicians through massage. I could look at a musician and tell what instrument he or she played by the way they held their body. By where their tension was located.

I did my part, during that time, to bring massage out of the darkened room and into the light of awareness that it was for healing not for sexual gratification. For relief of stress and to increase productivity and creativity. It was a burning passion for me and I’m glad to be reminded of it. There are a bunch of great articles about finding and following your passion located on Passion Unlocks Prosperity.com that I recommend if you want to get back in touch with your passion… Or find it for the first time!

I’m sad to know that Carl Anderson is gone, but very grateful I had a chance to know him. He made every one around him feel good, whether it was because he was singing or just being himself.

Now that my second wind has kicked in, it’s after 1:30 this morning, I’m not likely to get to sleep anytime soon. You know, it is a tough line to walk. It seems either I’m not sleeping enough or I sleep too much. No happy medium. The research shows we need sleep. That lack of it will age us. But there is only so much life in our human bodies and how to get the most out of that life without a few sleepless nights.

Any thoughts?

Still awake? Have you tried valerian?

Well, it’s almost 4 am in my time zone and here I am awake again after only a few hours of sweaty sleep.

These hormonal changes are not what I’d call fun! Night sweats being only one of the lovely effects. Of course being awake at this time of the day when there is so much to do later in the day is also a challenge.

What to do? I’ve already shamelessly promoted my husband, Bob Baran and his solo piano music. I guess I could go listen to “Martian Wonders”. Its combination of ambient sounds and piano usually helps put me back to sleep. But then again, sitting here blogging is pretty entertaining… And yes, oh yes, addictive.

Maybe I want to stay up a little longer.

I could take some valerian root. It is kinda tasty in a cup of tea. Herbal tea of course. If I drink any caffeine at this time, it’ll be 4 pm before I get back to sleep. It is Saturday. It might be an interesting way to spend the day. Buzzy from lack of sleep. Stumbling around blurry eyed. Umm, maybe not.

If I drink some valerian now, I might get to sleep in an hour or so. It isn’t the greatest of sleep aids, but it does mellow me out a bit.

Are you familiar with valerian root? It has a strong, rather sweetish odor that is unmistakable once you are familiar with it. I discovered it back in the 80’s when I was doing massage for a living. I have always kept some in tincture form around just for nights like this. Though sometimes it doesn’t do more than chill me out a bit. Other times, I’ll hit the hay in short order. I guess it just depends on how tired I really am.

Interested in knowing more about valerian, here are a number of factoids:

According to Wikipedia: the main current use of valerian is as a remedy for insomnia. It has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Most of the page on valerian has a bunch of technical jargon. But there were some other interesting facts listed there.

For example:

How valerian works as a mild sedative remains unknown.

It has been used as a sedative, anti-convulsant, migraine treatment and pain reliever…

And it has an unusual affect on cats and rats.

Some cats will act like they have found the catnip of their dreams. Rolling on the dried root, salivating all over it and eating it, if you leave it out where they can get at it. Burmese cats go as far as deliberately destroying containers to obtain it. Then again, some cats will not go near valerian root.

“Valerian is also very attractive to rats, so much so that it has been used to bait traps. Some versions of the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin have him using valerian, as well as his pipes, to attract the rats.

Valerian’s effect on cats is featured as a clue in two works by Agatha Christie.”

All of the above is either directly from Wikipedia (shameless copy/paste placed in quotes) or paraphrased.

What are the side effects of valerian root you might ask? Again according to Wikipedia:
“Valerian root is non-toxic but may cause side effects in excessive doses.” Few adverse effects have been reported. “Large doses or chronic use may result in stomach ache, apathy, and a feeling of mental dullness or mild depression. In some individuals, valerian can cause stomach ache, anxiety, and night terrors.” So don’t take too much and don’t make it an every night treatment for your insomnia.

I’m actually feeling the effects of the valerian I took awhile back. I guess it’s time to go curl up against my man, under my heavy blanket and get some sleep before dawn.

Hope you get some sleep soon too. Maybe give valerian a try. It might help you and as you saw above there really are no side effects unless you take too much or take it for too long. (Legal stuff… Check with your doctor first before taking any kind of medication, herbal or otherwise.) Of course we all follow that advise when we grab that 2nd or 3rd glass of wine. Don’t we?!

Good night and thanks for being here,

Gwen

What have you tried to help you get to sleep?

Herbs, Melatonin, Drugs, Counting Sheep, Alcohol, etc…

Have they worked?… Probably not, since here you are…

My name is Gwen and I’ve tried them all too, with varying degrees of success.

The herbs like Valerian are a helpful sleep aid if I’m already close to sleep but am unable to completely shut down. I’m not sure why I haven’t used Melatonin more. The studies seem to be positive on it. Maybe I tried it and just didn’t feel it was effective for me. When it comes to the prescription sleep aids, there is the possibility of addiction and if I can find another route, I’ll take it!

Have you ever tried counting sheep? I tried counting sheep, it just lead to my brain being even more awake and as a sleep aid I’d give it a failing grade.

For years I’d have a glass of wine or three before going to sleep only to wake up a few hours later and unable to get back to sleep and unwilling to drink more wine to get a few more hours of sleep only to awake again un-rested and hung over. Concern for my liver and overall health finally got me to kick that habit.

What about sex? It’s great if you are in a situation where you can get it on a regular basis. It’s been touted as an excellent sleep aid, especially for men, but for me, sex seems to energize me. Sure there are times I’ll sleep like a baby after sex, but other times you’ll find me on the computer for hours afterwards. Creating or surfing, just can’t seem to get to sleep.

What else have you tried? Oh, there’s always reading a very dull book. I’ve done it a number of times, but I drop off and the book falls and bang, I’m awake again!

What about music? Have you tried listening to music as a sleep aid?

I have found several things that work on a consistent basis, for me anyway. One is a heavy blanket. Not a good alternative in the summer and lately with my changing hormones I get overheated and I wake up to throw it off. The other thing that works as a consistent sleep aid for me is music. Not just any music but the new quantum consciousness music.

You may not have heard of it yet but you will. If it helps you sleep maybe you’ll be one of the people telling others about it. I’ll admit the only reason I know about it is that I know the composer. Okay, okay, so I’m married to him. So if you are turned off by that, well, there’s nothing I can do about it. If you still want to you could head over to Gathering Wave® with me and listen to some music, that would be nice and who knows maybe it will help you get to sleep.

One of the main reasons we have difficulty sleeping is because we can’t relax or turn off our mind. So if listening to this unique new style of music would help you get to sleep so you can get the rest you need, that would be a very good thing! Wouldn’t it?

So would you be open to listening to some of this quantum consciousness music?

There are those who swear by it. I’m one of them. What to you have to lose? More sleep? You are already up and you’ve found this site so why not at least listen to some sound bites and if you don’t feel more relaxed you can move on to the next site in your search list.

What type of music do you like? Are you into only acoustic instruments like the piano or are you open to the new sounds made possible by technology? Perhaps you’d like a combination of both?

Okay, I’ve done my part to shamelessly promote Bob’s music and now I’m going to go listen to The Life on Mars and fall asleep.