What's keeping me Awake? Tips I found helpful in my constant battle with Insomnia.
I lay awake watching the dark ceiling and hearing the tickling clock as it moved to daytime. That is the moment I know I'm having another episode of insomnia. Laying awake, hearing my sister's snore, having been in bed an hour ago, makes one jealous of how easily she fell asleep. How did she do that? Falling asleep right after laying in bed? How does one go to sleep anyway? That keeps me awake as I force my brain to settle down and sleep. The moment I pressured myself to sleep, that is when I had great difficulty sleeping.😅
Positive Thoughts
Whenever I have insomnia, negative thoughts always creep inside my head. Dark thoughts that, during the daytime, I never think of, but during insomnia, constantly visit me. Thoughts that are too bizarre, that I know are too negative for me. If I am having those thoughts, I always counter them with thinking of positive ones. I think of memories that bring in positive feelings that make me happy to chase away the dark thoughts that will eventually swallow me one day if I do not do so. I don't know why, but whenever I am again battling insomnia, I close my eyes and think of peaceful places I have visited or create an imaginative land that brings peace to my mind, like a long field with mountains, or remember the sunset or sunrise. That's mostly what helps me sleep.
The Butterfly Hug is accomplished by an individual wrap their arms around themselves, so that each hand touches the opposite upper arm or shoulder. They then move their hands like the wings of a butterfly, to tap their arms/shoulders in an alternating rhythm. (as an alternative, the person might just tap their knees.) - (Crowe Associates, 2019)
Source for the statement above
Photos taken from Source link for first photo and Source link for the second photo
Butterfly Hug
While watching "It's Okay Not to Be Okay" (a Korean drama), the female lead was always advised by the male lead to calm down using the butterfly tap. Remembering the male lead's advice, I also do that whenever I have insomnia. I cross my arms, like hugging myself, and tap each shoulder simultaneously and lightly. With every tap, I also compliment myself to help me drift to sleep. It mostly works. Eventually, it calms my brain down enough to let me sleep.
Setting a bedtime
The moment I changed my sleeping pattern, that's the moment I will have a hard time sleeping. Breaking my routine is what sometimes triggers my insomnia. Returning to my usual time to sleep always helps. I set an alarm to remind me that it's past my bedtime already. Whenever I have insomnia, I plan that next time; I should sleep earlier than usual, set my alarm, and do the things I mentioned above. It eventually helps me relax and sleep. Doing this relaxes my mind and helps me settle down; it calms me enough to sleep.
Drinking Milk or Tea
If I do happen to suffer insomnia for consecutive days, drinking hot milk or tea before bedtime always works. I read an article somewhere that talks about home remedies against insomnia, and one of the tips mentioned is drinking warm milk or tea, so I've been doing it since then to cope with my insomnia. Right before bedtime, I make sure to set aside time for my warm drink to get myself cozy after getting in bed. Attached below is the site that I am referring to.
Natural sleep remedies to battle insomnia. Healthy Options.
Listening to Lullabies
Music always works. Even in insomnia, music takes your mind off to something soothing and relaxing. Just make sure that the ones you listen to are lullabies, not rock music 😅. I listen to top music to calm me down on YouTube or songs to sleep whenever I have insomnia. It relaxes my mind and makes me sing for added perks🤣.
Photo taken from this link. Although the photo is taken from the internet, Sleepwell is also the sleeping pills i usually take.
Sleeping Pills
If you are suffering insomnia for many days already, drinking sleeping pills does help to make one sleep eventually. Although it's advisable not to do it always, the effect wears off if done consecutively. I myself stop drinking sleeping pills, for some time, since it does not work on me anymore, and I stop trying other sleeping pills with high dosages since taking them doesn't really give you great sleep. But if you really need to sleep, like having an exam the next day or you are traveling tomorrow, it's better to drink it but with someone aware of your condition. Sleeping pills should be your last resort after doing all the home remedies you read online, and if you have been suffering for a long period already, it's best to seek professional help. They know what is best for you.
Such a site to behold. Photos were taken during one of my walks. The lights are fishermen trying to catch some squid.
All the mentioned tips are from personal experience only after following instructions on the internet. Unfortunately, I could not afford to seek advice from a professional, but if I could one day have the money, I would certainly go to one. The sleeping pills are also given to me by someone who has been experiencing insomnia like me for years. It can be bought on the counter with no prescription needed (within the Philippines).
That is all for this blog; I hope you find it helpful. If you also have tips on how you handle your insomnia, feel free to drop them in the comment section so I can also practice them. Thank you, and have a blessed day.❤️
Hoyy Jen, we almost hang outs everyday,laughing out loud and there you are! you're struggling something without us knowing 🥺 but take care of yourself alright we always here (your friends) to listen🤗🤗
Hi tine @digdeeper2😅, i dont let my insomnia define my mood mansad😅 although naa juy times that it affects my day pero i always try not to. Also, hanging out and laughing with u and those people around me helps, atleast ma happy ko diba❤️❤️
Hoping you for the best @jenny0113. It's hard to be in your situation I was shocked at the young age you encountered this but I know you strong girl you will cope with this challenge in your life and be at normal state.
Thank you sir @intoy.bugoy. Its a constant battle jud sir but im doing the best i can to return to how i was before pandemic. So far, the home remedies that i found works naman sad 😊🤗
I feel you ❤️ keep fighting @jenny0113
@penflecto thank you 😊 Let us keep fighting jud ❤️
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Thank you @jenny0113 for sharing your tips, 'cause I also suffer from insomnia sometimes. Then somehow, I just find myself crying because I can't sleep, but now that you've shared some tips, I'm so glad I have now an idea what to do.💕
Hello @rainebow0407. I remembered the first few insomnias that i had, all i could do is stare at my sisters sleeping form and crying why i cant sleep like them😅. But then after i had like many days of insomnia already, instead of crying, I divert my attention to something that distract my overstimulated mind and just focus on one thing. I also tell myself that crying is not the answer, sometimes crying makes it harder to sleep😭.
Crying truly makes it harder, but I my mind just want to sleep, but then I cannot, and it makes me sad. Still, thank you for the tips.✨
Hahahhaha @rainebow0407 yeah our minds are really the problem here😅. It overpowers our other senses 😅🤣 but still, keep fighting ❤️
Somehow am a bit jealous. Strange, but true.
I usually fall asleep the moment my head touches my pillow. Rarely do I stay awake for more than a minute, or perhaps even half a minute after I turn off my lights. Perfect, you would think.
Well, not so perfect, since with lights turned on, I can't read more than 1 or 2 pages most of the time. And I love reading.
Lately, I like to listen to podcasts. During the day and evening, I don't seem to have enough time. Instead of reading a book, I hoped I could listen to those for half an hour before sleeping, but even then I sleep in 10 to 30 seconds with podcasts running all night. At least the listening numbers are going through the roof for these podcasts since I play them multiple times before I finish listened to them 😀
Hahahhahaha @edje we have opposite problems but yeah, it must have been frustrating for your part to sleep right after getting in bed after planning out some reading. For person who also loves reading and listening to podcast but dont really have the time to do that in the daytime, i do it often when im in bed. The sad part is that, it can also be the cause of my insomnia especially when i cant stop myself from finishing the book and sacrificing my sleep😅. But anyway, both our problems are valid, since we are struggling with it😭🤣.
Life is funny. It plays tricks on us. Thats a given 🙃
Owww I used to have this, deciding to read yet another page after the end of a chapter and finding myself continuing to read chapter after chapter until the sun came out and I had to go to school (a long time ago) or to work (not in pension yet). These days, I never experience this anymore since the sleep fairies knock me to sleep way before I can finish a chapter 😂
I do hope you can find less insomnia. Music is something you mentioned works. Are you listening to relaxing music then? perhaps these more meditative electronic music?
Hello @edje sorry for the late, yes i listen to calming music in youtube. Im more into it than electronic, but maybe i could give it a try next time😊. Life is indeed funny but that is what makes it exciting to live in. Why not try reading in the morning @edje? If you are not busy that is, i also cant do some reading in morning cause i still have school stuff to do 😅
That is a great suggestion, though I am more of a night person, than a morning one, and work usually awaits me on weekdays, and at weekends I find myself sleeping most of my morning. though I planned to read this morning, I decided to go for a 1.5 walk instead, with podcasts, so I got some done on that side of things.
Late reply? That was super quick in my book!
It seems I am quite quickish as well the last few days but usually it can take days to even weeks before I reply 😆
NJOY coming week, school and all.
Hahahha @edje you are super quick these days that’s for certain 🥹. How was the walk? the thing about having time to walk is that it clears your mind and let you have the time for yourself, that what i love about taking a stroll or jogging in the morning. Anyway, i hope you are also enjoying you weekends, do you have any book you can suggest for me to read? Hehhehe 😊
The walk was nice. Not so much me time, since my mind was occupied by listening a podcast about AI developments which I find super interesting.
Books to recommend. Depends on what kinda books you like. I read from casual easy-ish reading to literature, from business to technology and impact on society on us and whatnot.
Reads that stood out last years include:
"The Dawn of Everything" by David Graeber & David Wengrow
"Humankind" by Ruther Bergman
"DJ" by Ray Kluun
"The Grand Design" by Stephen Hawkins
"Shadows of the Mind" by Roger Penrose
Now am trying to read "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand as well as "Brave New World" by Huxley. But seems I mostly spend my time reading this more easy reading book by some Norwegian crime writer. I guess am reading 3 books in parallel, or at least I am trying to 🙃
Any recommendations you have?
Hi @edje, I’ll definitely gonna read some of what you suggested someday, i feel like ill be liking some of the book you’ve mentioned.
I dont think you will like my preferred book cause Im currently more into romance, fantasy, and sci-fi books so ill not be suggesting any😅 of those. The only book I read that you might like is ikigai: the japanese secret to a long and happy life and that is pretty much it. Your suggestions are a great way for me to start venturing in to those type of books❤️. Also, wow reading 3 books, that nice, how can you understand all of that informations? Hahahha here i am finding it hard to even understand one book (like technical book or academic book) hahahah
Cooowwwl: I'll be searching for Ikigai. Thanks for this recommendation.
the 'japanese secret' reminded me of the word "Chindōgu" - in free format translation, this means "Japanese Art of inventing useless products" ... Made me laugh a lot when a Dutch show created a small section in their program like 3 decades ago. I started using this when I worked for an aircraft company in the 90s. We did research quite a bit, creating mechanical pieces. Much of them landed on the top of cupboards which I labelled with stickers "Chindōgu department". At first, our manager didn't know what it was but didn't ask. Until a moment he asked who put those stickers on and what it meant. So I explained resulting in him pulling his eyebrows so high up that it touched the sky high above our heads, and those stayed there for quite a considerable time. And then he nodded so hard his head almost fell off. He made some not recognisable sounds and - almost - ran out of our room.
Anyway my association with this Japanese Secret and seemingly I was ready to share this memory. BTW, I was known for this kind of thingies, that's why he reacted like he did and didn't say anything. I remember one day I was not at the office, and the stickers got removed. Colleagues told me it was our boss who had done that, but didn't dare to do this in my presence.
Anyway, I do hope you can get to some of the recommended books and you like what you gonna read and absorb. Well, you can always forget about the 'absorb' part, costs more energy than not to absorb 😆
Big hugs to you @jenny0113. And also, thanks for the tips.🥰
Hope you find it helpful @mariacurls 🥹❤️
Some of the tips used to work for me but it stopped working at one point. I hope you can overcome this problem and able to seek medical help/therapy. For me, these days working out helps, I realized that all I need to sleep is getting tired enough because most of the time in the past, I wasn't really tired. But at the same time, I also suffer from oversleeping :') which is another set of problems. Anyhow, good luck!