From the time I was a small child I remember being in my dimly lit
bedroom, the house silent, faint snores coming from the hallway
unable to feel tired let alone sleep. When I did sleep it was like a
miracle happened and I had no recollection of how and when this
blissful sleep overtook me. I tried everything-all the old housewife
remedies-honey on toast, chamomile tea, a warm mug of milk,
a hot bath, lavender oil but still my brain just wanted to be alert
constantly. Thoughts racing around like rats in a scientific maze.
Some nights the frustration caused so much anxiety that I would
beg God to just take me so I could rest my mind and thoughts.
My mother was the same way. I remember specifically one night
when I was five years old. When I fell asleep (it was the one of the
rare nights I did) my room was green with white and red checkers.
The next morning the light shone in through my naked window frame
as I strained to open my eyes. My mom was tapping me on the shoulder, singing
her wake up song-which I so adored…”Rise and Shine and Give God
Your Glory Glory!!!” She held a large pink bundle in her hand and said,
“you have to wake up-I want to put your new sheets on the bed.”
As I blinked my eyelids fully open and they adjusted to the bright
sun I noticed that my mom was covered head to toe in Pepto Bismo
coloured paint; the fumes assaulted my senses. My bed was no longer on
the far left wall but in the centre of the room.
My bedroom was now baby pink and there was plastic covering all the furniture.
In shock and speechless I sat up as my mom chirped “What do you think honey?
Do you like it?” I asked her how in the hell she managed to completely repaint
my room as I slept during the night, she even painted the inside of the closet.
I unfortunately had the trait of insomnia passed down to me.
In my Counselling office and in discussion with friends and people in
general I notice that one of the biggest issues and causes of mental
illness is long standing sleep deprivation. It can slowly decline your
quality of life and ability to cope with the stress of daily living.
Ten years ago I escaped from the insomnia trap and I did that
by learning and utilizing guided meditations/visualizations every
single night (as well as sleeping beside the man I love surrounded
by at least five cozy pillows!
Have fun with the variety of sleep remedies, ideas, exercises.
Morning Meditation: Louise Hay-Morning Meditation
32 Solutions for When You Can’t Sleep
http://greatist.com/health/cant-sleep-advice-and-tips
Informed Viewing: TED Talks-A Playlist on Insomnia Talks
Music To Cure Insomnia
Natural Sleep Dust-A Fun Little Project
http://butterbeliever.com/how-to-fall-back-asleep/
Whipped Sleepy time Rub-Another Fun Recipe
http://thepaleomama.com/2014/07/whipped-sleepytime-rub/
Herbal Sleep Tea Recipe
http://www.littlehomesteaders.com/2014/09/herbal-sleep-tea-
ultimate-effective-easy-recipe/
Laughter is the Best Medicine: The 25 Most Awkward Cat
Sleeping Positions:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/paws/awkward-cat-sleeping-
Top Ten Yoga Positions to Cure Insomnia
http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/yoga-poses-to-cure-insomnia/
Reading Material:
Evening Meditation for Insomnia; Jason Stephenson
Peace, Love & Namaste
Em
90 Days to Spiritual Enlightenment 