Insomnia.Tried and tested.
I was okay till my daughter was born. A sound sleeper. A creature that did not roam around in the night, haunted by thoughts, which sometimes by morning, seem silly. Someone who slept through the night. Soundly. Unmindful of the night-time noises. (and no, my husband does not snore! Am not referring to that!)
Then she passed me a contagious disease which new born babies often pass to their parents—Insomnia. And I have suffered from it ever since.
I have tried everything from “41 tried and tested methods to cure insomnia” to deep breathing techniques, to Yoga (I religiously practice yoga too—along with my daily work-outs) to just plain counting sheep. The problem with the last being, sheep often turn into cows, and dragons and elves and gnomes, and fairies and dwarfs and other fantastic creatures, and they whiz past so fast inside my head till I cannot count anymore!!
And now I find that I attract people with the same problem too! Four of my friends are Insomniacs. I thought my problem was bad, but when I hear about theirs, they seem to be veterans at it.(Insomniacs of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your sleep!)
Now, it has stayed with me for so long that I no longer see it as a ‘problem’(Like the Stockholm syndrome!) I’ve learnt to live with it, and even like it at times! I love the silence of the night, while the whole world around me sleeps.(Okay, the immediate world surrounding me. Not those call centre employees and the BPO units) I love the time to think. I love the time to dissect my thoughts. I love the time to read. In peace, without interruptions. I love the midnight chats online (yes—sometimes I login in the middle of the night too and chat with friends. After all, it is not night everywhere—In Australia, it is already tomorrow!)
And I have realized that not all phases of Insomnia are non-productive. Some of my better poems have been written at nights while the midnight oil burnt! Some of my most brilliant ideas have come to me during the sleepless nights. Insomniacs are usually furious thinkers. They tend to worry over what seem small things to others. They are sensitive and kind human beings and a lot of fun to be with…No—these observations aren’t supported by any scientific study, but I’m sure all my friends will agree and vouch for them!
And the best cure for insomnia is usually the realization that it is time to get up!
Well, your hyman seems to be working because I have insomnia too sometimes. I tried everything too (especially last year, I had real trouble sleeping), but it was very important to just accept the fact that I had it. Instead of panicking over..."I should be asleep by now...", I just tried to rest my brain as best as I could. It's hard when you have to get up early though...
ReplyDeleteAnd yes...when it's time to get up, sleep comes easily ;)
I tend to go through phases of insomnia..right now it's fairly bad. It's very hard for someone who can 'fall asleep as soon as their heads touch the pillow' to understand the plight of the insomniac...I sometimes like to look out of my window (which overlooks a wide vista of Derbyshire) and look at the twinkling lights..I imagine all those people safely tucked up asleep..I imagine I can influence the dreams of those who sleep..perhaps I am one of a hundred appointed gaurdians to watch over the sleepers..to wish peace and happiness into their slumber....We are carers of the night.(ZZZZZZZ!)
ReplyDeletenight seems to be full of activities for insomniacs, especially with brilliant ideas striking at midnight...i am the one for whom 'there is no word insomnia in my dictionary':) but i stay awake late into the night & sleep the whole day if i'm allowed to:) but alas i've to go to office:)) and these wintry days , i have to literally pry open my eyes to get up in morning
ReplyDeleteThat is so true - if ever I can't sleep I always manage it just before I have to get up!
ReplyDeleteI'm not an insomniac but I do have periods when I go through it and had some bad spouts of it last year when things were difficult. It is so true though, if my mind has things to think about it will wake me up so that it can work.
I know what you mena about the sheep too :-) I have the same sort of stream of consciousness and I often think of some great things at night.
I love waking up in the middle of the night with ah-ha! moments and writing or drawing. The sounds of traffic are finally quieted. I can hear the train whistle off in the distance. The cats are fascinated to see one of their people up and around during 'their' time and sit next to me and watch or meow their comments to me. I love watching the sun come up and seeing the world wake up. I feel a sort of satisfaction that I have seen the day in and can now go off to sleep.
ReplyDeleteI am fortunate now in that the girls go off to school during the day so I can take a nap while they are gone and be awake and rested for the most part when they get home.
I agree.. I am an insomniac.. and i hav solved much of my homework while not sleeping.. and have got teh wierdest of ideas than.. :D
ReplyDelete