Image courtesy Google Images
By now it’s no secret that I suffer from insomnia. I’ve blogged about it before, not too long ago in fact. Yes, I avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol after a certain hour of the day, I don’t overeat, I avoid excitement and video games before bedtime, I drink warm milk and swallow Valerian Root capsules, but none of that seems to work for me. I’ve simply come to accept the fact that sleeping is overrated and I do my best to make the most of those dark quiet hours when the rest of the world slumbers.
Morning conversations at my house usually start with something like, “How did you sleep?” And me responding with, “I didn’t,” or “Not very well.” One day last week, my hubby asked, “What do you think about while you’re laying there awake?” I responded with, “Nothing really. I just keep telling myself to go to sleep.”
But that’s not really how it is. It’s really more like what happened one night last week, Tuesday to be precise. I decided, as I lay there awake listening to the dog snore and the heating unit click on and off, that maybe if I could go to some remote awesome place in my mind, I might drift off into la la land.
Photo courtesy Google Images
The journey went something like this: I walked barefoot in the warm sand along the beach of my private island. Then I spent several, what felt like hours, mentally visiting every island I could conjure. I settled upon Fantasy Island and decided that from there I would build a raft and sail off to The Big Rock Candy Mountain aboard the Goodship Lollipop I’d created with nothing more than palm fronds and my own superior ingenuity.
Photo courtesy Google Images
Things were going well, but as I attempted to row, row, row my boat gently down the stream, the weather started getting rough and my tiny ship was tossed. I started regretting my decision to sail, wishing instead that we all did live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine. But then I remembered how I much I really do not like being under the water. Although . . .
I certainly wouldn’t mind being under the sea, as I hear they have a hot crustacean band and rumor has it they’ve got no troubles and life is the bubbles under the sea. Bubbles? Tiny bubbles. They make me happy, make me feel fine, make me warm all over. Tiny bubbles in the red, red wine, stay close to me, just one thing makes me forget – which makes me wonder if perhaps I’d be sleeping right this very minute if I had in fact had a glass of wine.
Photo courtesy Google Images
I never found out because as dawn broke over the horizon I realized, too late, that I should never have planned to leave Fantasy Island in the first place.
And so goes another sleepless night with an explanation to my husband that I don’t think about anything, because that’s just so much easier than telling him about my fantastical journey. I’ll let him read about it in this blog.
Does your mind ever wander into strange territory? Do you make up weird stories in the middle of the night? Please share so I don’t feel so freakish and alone in my midnight musings.
Word of the Day: Zarf
Fun Fact About me: I have double-jointed toes.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, February 2015. Photos and images courtesy Google Images.
I’m so sorry to hear that you deal with insomnia so regularly! The few times I get drive me absolutely crazy. I’m amazed by how well you manage with it as a chronic thing. At least you entertain yourself…maybe some book material there…. 😉
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Kathy, I’m hoping this insomnia is attrituable to mid-life hormones and will eventually work itself out of my system, but in the meantime, yes, I too am hoping for some book fodder.
Thanks for stopping by on this holiday Monday!
Patricia
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It’s terrible to get insomnia. The more I stress about not sleeping, the less sleep I get. I have a routine. I drink decaf green tea and read Chuck Dickens. He puts me right to sleep. I need white noise from the humidifier. If my knee doesn’t get tweaked too badly, I sleep pretty well. Last night I forgot to take Tylenol and was achy all night. It’s going to be a caffeinated day!
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Oh Susie, I know what you mean about having a caffeinated day. Iced green tea every morning jumps starts me but by mid-afternoon I’m already thinking about what not to eat or drink in the hope that I’ll get some sleep that night. Sleeping with pain is no fun either. I hope you’re knee heals rapidly.
Thanks for leaving a comment today. Always good to see you here at the Edge of Eternity.
Patricia
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That sucks that you’re still not sleeping. Sounds like your brain is trying to dream without you actually going to sleep! 🙂 And yes, they do have hot crustacean bands under the sea. And what would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand? Bet you on land they understand, bet they don’t reprimand their daughters. Bright young women sick of swimming ready to stand…The Little Mermaid totally by memory, thank you very much. Or should I be frightened? Hope your insomnia kicks the bucket soon! And zarf is such a great word, but disappointing. I wanted it to be something really cool.
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So I am not alone in my completely memorized lyrics to the Little Mermaid? I’ll take Ariel any day over that silly Elsa. Ariel and her under the sea friends totally rock.
I’m hoping that this sleeplessness is just hormonal and will eventually go away, but we’ll see. It is what it is.
Sorry to disappoint with my word today. I’ll try harder next week for something really cool.
Take care and have a great week.
Patricia
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Might your insomnia have something to do with the big life decisions you’re contemplating? I had serious insomnia once, for about three months. I was so tired I felt sick all the time. I even went to the doctor, who assured me I would not die from it (I seriously thought I might) and gave me sleeping pills that made me feel drugged AND sick (and no, they didn’t help me sleep). I remember the first time I actually slept. It was only for about an hour, and I woke up so excited that I’d actually slept that I couldn’t get back to sleep. But this too will pass. At least your body is resting. Maybe it’s time to stop avoiding excess alcohol at bedtime? Hugs.
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Oh Suzanne don’t think I haven’t tried reversing the above philosophy, because I indeed have. Some nights I sleep just fine, but then I’ll have 3 or 4 in a row where my mind just won’t go to sleep.
I’m thinking that new life direction might have something to do with it too, but the change is a good one so it’s not like I’m laying awake wondering if we’re doing the right thing. Weird how the brain works.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m glad you’re past it.
Patricia
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Bummer!
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This too shall pass my friend. Thanks for stopping by.
Patricia
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I can so relate to the ecard at the top of the post LOL. The morning conversations at your house sounds just like mine. And yeah, I think about weird stuff when I can’t sleep. Actually, I was on a writers’ panel last week and someone in the audience asked when & how we started writing, and I remembered that I’ve told myself stories to fall asleep as long as I can remember. I’ve also never been a good sleeper, even when I was a kid. Hmmmm, maybe there’s a connection…
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Jennette I know you’ve commented before about how you too have trouble sleeping. I also remember as a kid laying in bed long past lights out and making up stories because I wasn’t tired but my parents insisted that it was bedtime and I needed to go to bed. So I went to bed, but just lay there wide awake with my over-active imagination.
But, I’ve never been a morning person either and I think I know why. Maybe if I got some sleep at normal sleeping hours, I’d be more functional in the mornings. A lot of people don’t get it that some folks truly aren’t “morning people.” It’s not just in our heads, it’s a true thing. My mom and I had many, many arguments when I was growing up about how I simply was not able to function in the morning. My mom was one of those people who didn’t “get” it.
I’m glad we share this common ailment. Not that I’m glad you have insomnia, but that at least I’m not the only person laying awake at night making up weird shit in my mind.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing. Have a great week and try to get some sleep.
Patricia
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I can’t even remember one dream. As soon as I hit the pillow I pass out. My gal hates me as I sleep like a rock and snore like a bullhorn. She hates me.
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Oh Phil, I’m sure she doesn’t hate you. Who could hate you? You’re a swell guy.
I do think that women are far more plagued by insomnia than men. My hubby is usually asleep about 2 minutes after he lays down too. I envy him.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!
Patricia
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Hormones! I took topical progesterone (over-the-counter) during “that time” and it helped. I’m a night person anyway and finally switching to shift work made my life much better. But when the hardcore stuff hits, I just give up and read. Hope you find something that works, Patricia!
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Hi Debra and thanks for the tip. I’m trying to avoid any “drugs” if possible, but I do occasionally take sleeping pills.
It’s hard for me to get up and do something because that disrupts my husband and the dog and then we’re all up and all irritable the next day. Besides reading doesn’t make me sleepy, it only makes me want to stay in the story.
It’s all good. There are so many worse things that could rule my life, I’ll just stick with this. This too shall pass.
Thanks for visiting today. Always nice to see your smiling face.
Patricia
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Well, one good thing came of your insomnia: this brilliant post! Haha! Made me laugh out loud.
Insomnia is rampant. I know so many people who have problems sleeping. 😦 My daughter uses Arbonne’s Sleep Well Spray when she has trouble falling asleep. It has melatonin, valerian root, and passion flower, mainly. I used it once and it worked great. I was out in no time. It’s a spray. I sprayed three pumps in my mouth, which is less than half a dose.
I listen to the text-to-speech feature on my Kindle or to an audio book on my iPad Mini or to a recorded interview or things like that online. And sometimes talk radio if the subject isn’t scary. I’d rather be awake than have nightmares! Maybe Debra Eve is right about the topical progesterone. That might be just what you need. I hope you find a solution to the insomnia. No fun.
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Oh, I forgot to tell you I have double jointed toes, too! Even in my old age, I can curl them under and walk on the knuckles of my toes! It hurts but I can still do it. Freaky, huh? 🙂
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Thanks for the support Lynn and the suggestion. Perhaps you could send me information about that spray via private e-mail? I’d love to explore that method as opposed to “drugs.” I was advised against hormone replacement therapy by my mother, who swears that’s what caused her cancer. No way of knowing, but I certainly don’t want to risk it, especially since I have so many of her medical traits already. Why bring on trouble. I’ll definitely try the natural stuff though so please send me that. (jansen (dot) schmidt (at) yahoo).
So nice to see you and hear your story. Are your toes sensitive too? Sometimes when I’m getting a pedicure I flinch because my toes get cracked or bent when I’m not expecting it. It’s a weird feeling.
Take care. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Patricia
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Yes! I definitely tell myself weird stories in an effort to induce sleep. Sometimes I repeat the stories. You’d think that’d put me right to sleep! Sadly not always. Which is why I probably love coffee. And that brings me right around to a zarf, which sounds like a fancy way to drink a morning beverage. 🙂
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Coffee in a zarf coming up for my friend Coleen. Extra large for those sleepless nights.
Fortunately I usually get 2 or 3 nights in a row of good sleep. Unfortunately, they’re followed by 2 or 3 nights of not so much sleep. I guess you have to take the good with the bad.
Thanks for popping over today. Looks like you’ve been having some fun with your daughter. She is very pretty. She looks like you and your hubby. I can see both of you in her beautiful face.
Have a great weekend!
Patricia
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[…] sent me date bars, and GirlBoner lip balm. Patricia Rickrode (aka Jansen Schmidt) sent me wine. Sharla Rae sent an Undie Chronicle gift box. Still more friends sent me cards and […]
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Ooops ~ I’m a bit late here … slept in! Just kidding … and probably not appreciated by someone with insomnia. I fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow, much to my husband’s annoyance as he tosses and turns. I’m so sorry you are dealing with this, but I’m happy that this post came out of it!
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Late arrivals are always welcome here at the Edge of Eternity, Patricia. Feel free to drop in any time.
I’m so glad to hear that you do not have sleeping issues. It seems we all have “something,” and I guess mine is insomnia. At least I get some interesting stuff drifting around in my head.
Thanks for stopping by.
Patricia
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