Friday, January 4, 2008

Sleep or the Lack Thereof

Sleep, such an elusive thing.  I don't know how many people have this problem but I don't always fall asleep when I want to.  I always wake up at the same time every morning, no matter what time I went to bed, or went to sleep I should say.  But here's how it goes for me, not always (Thank God) but sometimes.  Now I lay me down to sleep...but I am still awake!  My mind begins thinking about various things like what am I going to do tomorrow, what do I need to do tomorrow, what do I want to do tomorrow and so on.  I may think of what I said or did that day.  I may think of trivial things like how do you spell "gray" or "grey"? My sister-in-law was married to an artist and years ago was the first time I heard of the color "ecru."  It seemed to be an important matter at the time, getting it right.  I for some reason only knew "tan" or "beige."  Things I called "blue" might have been "green" and "purple" to me might have been "lavendar" or "lilac."  Then I could start thinking about Jennifer Aniston and whether she is pregnant or not and then by gosh who got her pregnant, I haven't kept up with this!  After Vince I lost track.  But back to sleep effort, I may fall asleep eventually, surely after I reach boredom stage.  But what wicked thing should happen a few hours later?  Snoring?  My husband's?  Mine?  Oh, my God.  Then another thing that concerns me when I can't fall asleep is the position I'm laying.  First, when I lay down I like to lay on my side facing the middle of the bed.  I can't always do this because somebody else is facing that way and I can't be breathing that close to anyone.  So I turn over to the other side facing the edge.  Then if I can't sleep, I start wondering what to do with my arm that I am laying on, I put it under my pillow or down at my side sometimes, it seems to get in the way and I start thinking maybe our arms should be detachable at night so they wouldn't get in the way.  Sometimes I get pins and needles from sleeping on my arm.  I think laying on my back is not a good position for snoring (if it occurs by me, I really don't know, haven't been told that yet).  Laying on the stomach is way too uncomfortable for several reasons.  First, the head and neck don't agree with smooshing into the pillow and second, the chest area gets smashed, not good.  I'm a mostly a side sleeper.  So I get too hot and stick one leg out, I get too cold and move it back in.  We have a down comforter and pillows which work pretty good.  When you first lay down, it is like heaven, but can change to a much warmer place quickly if the body heat gets trapped.  Then there could be another trouble that occurs depending on what I ate before I went to bed.  A quick trip is made to the bathroom, I always look at the clock to see what time it is and then I can tell how long that took.  Oh what misery!  Should not have eaten that crab wonton before I went to bed!  Then what happens?  Morning, dawn's early light.  Mercies are new every morning and I think I could use some mercy.  :D

7 comments:

Jeanette said...

I know what you mean about sleep being a elusive thing. I usually have no problem getting to sleep, it's staying asleep that is rough. At least 1-2 times a week, I wake up anywhere between 1-3 am and cannot get back to sleep for hours. My mind goes non-stop. I bought some stuff called MidNite, and that seems to help relax me somewhat. Menopause. Gotta love it (not)!

Rising Rainbow said...

Not sleeping is a problem for lots of people. I can do that mind is too busy to sleep thing. I got hypnotized to fix it. It worked for many many years.

TR Ryan said...

Oh, you have just described my every night. Add two dogs to the down comforter and I have to turn the heat OFF in the middle of winter before I go to bed. And, I can go to bed at 2:00 am at will and still wake wide at 7:30 am. Enjoy seeing you at Ree's place - isn't she a hoot! Thanks for stopping by earlier.

Sandy said...

I don't know what you mean...woke up at 2 something, 3 something, hit the bathtub at 4 something and am now already wondering how I will sleep tonight.

I think it used to be easier when I drank all the time...lol.

kitten said...

Bless your heart! I know all about sleep problems, but in a different view. I crash when I hit the bed, but can't stay a sleep and it feeels like I had just gone into a good sleep when it's time to wake. But according to my sleep studies I have had they say I go to sleep with in 2-3 mins. Even during day time nap studies. And, OMGees! Does my mind ever race!
Here's to better night!

Anonymous said...

I snorted with sympathetic understanding while reading this. I am sooo much the same way. I wish there was a switch to turn your brain off at night...it gets in the way. But now I have trained myself not to look at the clock all the times I'm up or flipping over. I know it's late!

Walker said...

Grey is English. Gray is American.

My sleep tips:
1. Make sure you have light, loose socks on. Seriously.

2. Before you go to bed, do a core dump of things that you have to do. Just write it on paper and give your brain a rest.

3. Learn to say the rosary. It's even good for protestants. And, man, it will put you to sleep!