I thought, yeah, I know it’s not good for me to not be getting enough sleep, but her real concern was that my sleep pattern was “whacked”. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I don’t get enough sleep then I get too much. It is strange, I often feel like I have so much more energy to accomplish things when I sleep less than when I sleep more. When I get too much sleep I am groggy and can’t seem to wake up at all.

But her concern made me check out “whacked” sleep patterns and she was right!

In a Washington Post article from 2005, staff writer Rob Stein writes about what scientists have been finding out about what losing sleep does to our bodies. It wasn’t pretty. “…failing to get enough sleep or sleeping at odd hours heightens the risk for a variety of major illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity…”

He goes on with quotes from scientists and researchers that indicate that not sleeping could be stealing our lives. Certainly it is aging us and this lack of sleep for many is the result of the 24-7 lifestyle that the Internet, cable television and other elements of modern life make possible.

Not all the results are in even 2 years later. Some scientists disagreed with the findings, saying we are living longer and are healthier than ever before. They also point out that there could be other factors causing the increase in the biggest diseases in people that don’t sleep much or sleep irregularly.

Still it seems that if you want to live a healthier life, staying up all night in front of the computer or TV screen may not be a good idea.

So I will have to get back to the original mission of this blog… Finding the things that work to help us get to sleep and sleep deeply and regularly.

I will start with more research on melatonin. My doctor mentioned that I might try it again as a sleep aid. She knows I prefer alternative remedies to prescription drugs and respects that.

The article I was referencing from the Post also mentioned that, “Melatonin is believed to protect against cancer by affecting levels of other hormones, such as estrogen.”

So look for another post with the results of more melatonin research.

Let’s not let our brains and whatever else is not letting us sleep, steal away our lives. I don’t know about you, but there are a lot more things I want to do and experience in this life and not a one of them is some life threatening disease.

Until next time… Take care and BE WELL!

P.S. Quick plug… The Intentional Prosperity™ System going live soon.

I believe it is part of the process. If you recognize what keeps you awake, then you are on the way to figuring out how to let those things go and allow yourself to sleep. It is all about choices.

We can choose to stay up and work, surf or blog all night or we can choose to disconnect and let our brains wind down and allow ourselves the respite of a good night’s sleep. But it is true, making those choices isn’t always easy. Especially if you aren’t aware you actually have that choice. Many people would say they have no choice. Those individuals have chosen, consciously or more likely unconsciously, to be victims of circumstance.

Perhaps what is keeping you awake is something so frightening that you don’t even look at it. Maybe it is only frightening because you haven’t looked at it. I don’t know what is in your head. It could be it is just easier to choose to take some form of sleep aid, drug, alcohol, or some other alternative like melatonin or valerian to help you get some sleep. Maybe some introspection would be the best sleep aid you can find.

Why can’t you sleep? Are you worried about the bills? Are you concerned that you made a mistake and you are beating yourself up for your action or words? Do you have an issue with your health that is keeping you awake? Are you thinking about something that is long done and there is nothing you can do about it? Recriminations keep many people awake at night.

Dealing with whatever is keeping you awake is the best medicine you can take. If you truly are seeking a healthier life and more restful sleep, then look inside yourself. Accept yourself exactly where and how you are right now. No matter what judgments you may have. Begin to give yourself love and acceptance and you will be surprised at how the conditions you live in will begin to change. Even your sleep patterns.

So here’s my recommendation tonight: spend some time in introspection. If you can come to terms with what is inside of you and accept it and yourself or let it go, you will sleep better. If you are going to beat yourself up because of what you find inside, then you will probably sleep less.

Introspection, acceptance and letting go. Can you do it?

If you need help go to Intentional Prosperity. There are a number of articles that are located along the right side of the page. They are about finding and following your passion. To live your dreams, you need to be able to look inside yourself, accept what you see and let go of what is no longer serving you.

Here’s to growing to a place where we are all living our dreams and where we can all sleep better.

Take care and good night.

His name is Ken McCarthy and he’s one of those internet marketing trainers. I don’t get anything for sending you to read his blog post. It contains some really good free advise he got, in part, from Warren Buffet about the importance of sleep.

Here is a portion of what he had to say about a good night’s sleep:

“now after reading a joint study by Harvard Medical School and the University of Berkeley, I realize there’s a lot more to it.

In a nutshell, here’s what they found:

Lack of sleep can drive you crazy!

Maybe not permanently, but without proper sleep, the study says, your brain dramatically overreacts to negative experiences.

“Dramatically overreacts”…that’s pretty strong language for a scientific study.

The researchers admit to being surprised at the massively disruptive effect lack of sleep can have on people’s moods and mental health. Going into the study, they intuitively knew - as we all do - that not sleeping well makes you cranky, but they weren’t prepared for what they found.

Lack of sleep, researches say, causes people to act as if they have psychiatric disorders.

Think about the potential significance of this…

It may be that the current epidemic of mood disorders like depression, anxiety and just plain unhappiness may be come from the fact that people just aren’t sleeping enough.

What to do?” Read the whole post here…

Getting yourself to bed before 11 pm was one suggestion. Otherwise you get a second wind and off you go until 3 - 4 o’clock in the morning. Drinking chamomile tea to help you relax was another possible sleep aid suggested in the blog post. Go read it and try what he suggests. Maybe tonight you won’t have trouble sleeping.

Now, I know you’re not suppose to keep drugs around that long. But they said “take as needed” and I hadn’t needed them very often. And when I did take them, I was so knocked out that it was awhile before I was willing to do another.

I don’t recommend taking a muscle relaxant as a sleep aid. I was woozy and my vision was blurred and when I finally woke up, I was useless for hours. Pretty much a wasted day. I hadn’t taken it to get to sleep. I took it because I was in a lot of pain. Cramps from hell! I will be glad when this part of womanhood is over.

My husband says it’s the price I pay for all those orgasms. I don’t agree. It has more to do with my diet and that I haven’t been eating as well as I could lately. I suppose not sleeping also has something to do with it. If only those orgasms helped me sleep. No most times, I am energized after sex. Well, it could be worse. I could be single and not having sex! Or worse yet, having risky liaisons and definitely not getting a full night’s sleep.

But here it is another night or I should say morning, 3:33 am my time and I’m up and in front of my computer again. Those cramps are back and now I have no more muscle relaxers to take and really, I wouldn’t take one if I had it.

I wish I had a glass of wine though. That was a quick pain reliever! But I’m glad that’s not part of my life anymore. Too easy for one glass to become two, become three and then at least 2 every evening. It wasn’t worth the price. None seems to be how I have to do it.

I have found something else that helps with the menstrual pain. My sister made me some microwave heat packs. You know, those wheat filled bags you can toss into the microwave and heat up for a few minutes. Not too long, you don’t want them too hot! I put on a weight reduction belt and stick those bag in-between the belt and my clothes, one in front and the other in back and I have a portable heating pack.

It looks like I have a strange shaped tire around my middle, but who cares it does work. For all but the worst pain anyway. Last night it wasn’t working, that’s why I took a drug. Was the full night’s sleep worth it? I’m undecided. I feel better now that it is out of my system, but I still have dark circles under my eyes. I guess one good night’s sleep can’t make up for a number of interrupted ones.

I’m heading back to bed with my portable heating pack and my copy of “The Life on Mars”. Wish me luck…

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