Sleep

I take Klonapin and Trazodone to sleep and throw in a big, fat Evening Primrose (I had to stop taking them during the day because I was sleeping all day).

Another helpful thing is "white noise" or one of those sound machines (you can get just the sound or a clock that has the sound buttons.  I highly recommend the ones where the buttons stick up because the flat buttons (which are newer and more expensive) and you hit the wrong buttons all the time (especially if using as a clock, too).  But it has about 8 different sounds.  I used to listen to "Spring Rain" until I became incontinent (lol), so now I listen to "Rainforest".  I actually leave it on all day and night.  Even though I've stopped doing it as i can't seem to breathe in the situation I'm in right now (I've been told by doctors I exhale more than I inhale - very stressed and now in a really truly bad situation), but breathing in through your nose a very deep breath, counting to 5 while breathing in, and letting the air go all the way to your lower back, pause (and say "pause" silently), then count out 8 while breathing out your mouth.  This really relaxes your muscles and stuff.  I read a book about mindful meditation.  (I'm no new-ager, believe me), but it was just factual about the importance of breathing.

I'm so sorry to hear you're not being able to sleep.  You know, my pop (God rest his beloved soul) always told me that if you can't sleep (he learned this in the Army, WWII), that if you just lay your body down and breathe and your body is relaxing (through the breathing), it's the same thing as sleep.  Whether this is true or not, he told me when I was young enough to believe it when I have bad nights of sleep (except when cats are crawling all over me making it IMPOSSIBLE for me to sleep).

I wish you ALL the needed sleep you are truly needing right now.  In the interim, lay down, relax and just breathe.  The counting while you're breathing takes away the "outside thoughts" that run through the mind.  If they come to bother you in your resting, acknowledge and let it pass and continue with your breathing.  You get better and better at this if you keep it up.

I'm not doing to well practicing it right now being in a tumultuous situation.

Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.............

Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.............

Julie O'

I just took my meds.  Being super sensitive to the energy of others and the landlady just came home - I can totally feel her vibe and her husband gets off the radio and sould be home without about 10-20 minuts.  I want to be asleep or with all lights off.

I am sooooooo uncomfortable and stressed here.  I hope my cat, Chief Joseph, lays across my ear and purrs really loud - he does that almost every night (one eye'd Himmy) - now THAT is a perfect sound device to take away every distraction!  :o)

Sleep well all!!

Julie O'

Hope I'm getting to you in time.  If you go to Drugstore .com, they have lots of stuff there, but if you look up "Homedics Sound" or "Homedics Radio" you will see a bunch come up.  I personally recommend the cheapest one, silver, no iPod thingy (I don't have an iPod anyways), but on th silver cheap one, the buttons stick up and I swear this makes a huge difference.

I DO gotta tell you guys, if you have or can adopt a cat that purrs a LOT and he lays over your ear, no other thoughts CAN enter, I swear!  LOL  It's true!

And remember, April, if those thoughts come every 10 seconds, just acknowledge they came, then get yourself back to the breathing/counting thing.  In time, the thoughts won't come and you will have complete control.

(I haven't been practicing what I preach lately, but it worked for me over time when I was using it during a horrific lawsuit that lasted 2 years).

Breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeathe................................ ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

(I have it on my phone on the start-up part).

:o)

Julie O'

But yeah, try the fan first if you have one handy!

If you need more than one noise (like I do), the Homedics thing is really good and the sound is good (the cheapie sounds the same as the expensiv-ee.  (I bought the expensive one and had problems with the buttons, so, since I gave away my cheapie, I had to buy another).

I say whatever works for each individual for sure! 

Julie O'

Geez, I just realized this is your thread - how is your pain level now? 

I'll be thinking of you an send some of my cat, Chief Joseph's purrs

your way that will take everything out of your mind!!

Julie O'

Julie:  my pain level is about a 7-8 I have perocet to take, in fact I just took one.  I have a very high tolerance to pain meds.

I'm going to try to get some sleep wish me luck..................

Sweet Dreams Everyone

YAY!!!!!  Congratulations!!  Any progress is great progress!!!

Maybe now with practice of breathing it will work faster and faster over the next

little while!

Thanks for letting us know - I'm so glad you go SOME sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Julie O'  :-D

I've heard about that, too - sticking to a regular sleep-time schedule.

Great addition to this thread!!  Thanks!  (I need to remember that,

too!!)

Julie O'