go to bed

[Carleendiane]

Hey wake up! I was just joking. I haven't been to sleep. Errrr......um...not like I didn't try. CHRISSSS! Where's that dog gone tray you brought out. Never mind. I have a platter of my own. One half of a p. butter, strawberry jam sandwich, cut into eight equal pieces. N-i-c-e huh?  Help yourself. I'll never be able to finish this by myself. Never.

Ok. So I couldn't sleep. I need something to do for a bit, while I wait to try again.

[christulsa]

Hey wake up! I was just joking. I haven't been to sleep. Errrr......um...not like I didn't try. CHRISSSS! Where's that dog gone tray you brought out. Never mind. I have a platter of my own. One half of a p. butter, strawberry jam sandwich, cut into eight equal pieces. N-i-c-e huh?  Help yourself. I'll never be able to finish this by myself. Never.

Ok. So I couldn't sleep. I need something to do for a bit, while I wait to try again.

Thanks big mama but I can't eat bread just starting back today on my low carb diet.  Ahem, I mean low carb lifestyle.

Why couldn't you get to sleep?  You just have to lay down, close your eyes, relax your mind, and just let yourself drift off.  No big deal.  Lol

[dymphna17]

She forgot to drink the Guinness.  So now;   

[Carleendiane]

Thanks Chris! Really and truly? It's that simple? Lay down? Close my eyes....uh oh....wait here while I run back and try again, I think I now know what I didn't do to be a successful sleeper. Does it HAVE to be BOTH eyes. Well  of course it does....Chris said so. I'll get this right, yet. So wait right here Chris, I may need a hand getting both eyes to shut at the same time.

[Carleendiane]

Dymph, stay out of this. I am taking sleeping lessons from Chris. Just sayin.....

[dymphna17]

Carleen:

Hey wake up! I was just joking. I haven't been to sleep.

OK Mama, time for a bedtime story.  There once was a Mama who was bored with her job watching children.  So she cooked up a fantastic joke to pull on all the forum members.  The next day she came running out of her house yelling, "I'm going to sleep now!  Someone else needs to come watch the shee...errr... the children!  I've got to go to sleep!  Now!!"  Everyone on the forum came running since no one wants to see children left alone.  Mama did this a second time the next day and everyone walked over this time instead of running.  The third time she did this, and she really was ready to drop tired, no one came to help.  She had to stay up and watch the children and her sparkly reputation was ruined.  The End

Now you are ready to go to sleep, aren't you?  Sweet dreams my sleepy, but awake friend.  Hope your night goes well.       

[dymphna17]

Dymph, stay out of this. I am taking sleeping lessons from Chris. Just sayin.....

[Carleendiane]

Thanks for the bedtime story, Dymphna. I think.

[dymphna17]

Thanks for the bedtime story, Dymphna. I think.

I really hope you are in bed with both eyes closed now.  The next option was me singing a lullaby.  And NObody wants to be subjected to that.     

Sweet dreams, my friend.

[christulsa]

Chris' Full Proof Plan for Falling Asleep in 5 Minutes:

1. Lie down.

2. Close your eyes (both eyes).

3. Relax your mind.

4. Just choose to fall asleep.

Disclaimer:  this may require a hypnotic sleeping pill like Ambien (which in hindsight I do not recommend unless you are about to die from sleep deprivation)

[dymphna17]

Chris, your fool proof plan is a sound and good one for most.    However, as someone who routinely stays awake for 2-3 days in a row, and up to 7 days a couple of times, your plan, while wonderful for normal people who have insomnia once in a while, doesn't cover my situation.  Do you have any words of wisdom for someone like me?  I can't take ambien because it makes me hallucinate.  I have found a mixture of meds that is working for now, but after 2 years, medications usually stop working for me like they did before.      

[Non Nobis]

Chris' Full Proof Plan for Falling Asleep in 5 Minutes:

1. Lie down.

2. Close your eyes (both eyes).

3. Relax your mind.

4. Just choose to fall asleep.

Disclaimer:  this may require a hypnotic sleeping pill like Ambien (which in hindsight I do not recommend unless you are about to die from sleep deprivation)

I sometimes try so hard to do step 3 that I get stressed out.  Why can't I relax @$@#?

... Just...let.. yourself.. sleep Zzzz... only works if you are falling asleep anyway.

[Non Nobis]

Chris, your fool proof plan is a sound and good one for most.    However, as someone who routinely stays awake for 2-3 days in a row, and up to 7 days a couple of times, your plan, while wonderful for normal people who have insomnia once in a while, doesn't cover my situation.  Do you have any words of wisdom for someone like me?  I can't take ambien because it makes me hallucinate.  I have found a mixture of meds that is working for now, but after 2 years, medications usually stop working for me like they did before.      

[christulsa]

Chris, your fool proof plan is a sound and good one for most.    However, as someone who routinely stays awake for 2-3 days in a row, and up to 7 days a couple of times, your plan, while wonderful for normal people who have insomnia once in a while, doesn't cover my situation.  Do you have any words of wisdom for someone like me?  I can't take ambien because it makes me hallucinate.  I have found a mixture of meds that is working for now, but after 2 years, medications usually stop working for me like they did before.      

Chris' Full Proof Plan for DYMPHNA to Achieve Normal, Healthy Sleep:

1.  Exercise vigorously for at least one hour during the day, ideally outside and in the morning.

2.  Eat a reduced carb, low glycemic index diet to better stabilize blood sugars, especially at night.

3. Practice deep breathing relaxation twice a day.

4. Spend at least an hour a day in leisure with family or friends.

5. Always go to bed at the same time, and early.  No later than 10pm.

6. Progressively decrease activities and serious concerns over several hours in the evening, also progressively turning off lights and other electronic devices.

7. Turn off almost all lights one hour before bedtime.

8. Take a small dose of Melatonin (1-3 mg) EARLY in the evening to help mind slowly shift to sleep mode.

9. Before bed, take a heavier dose of TIME-RELEASED Melatonin which will KEEP you asleep.  5-10 mg.

10.  Also take Valerian root and Calcium Magnesium with warm milk or Camamilla tea.  Plus a small, low carb, high fat, high protein snack (like avocado and turkey).

11.  Write down a daily list of concerns for the next day, to clear your mind.

12. Take a hot shower, or bath with Epsom salt and lavender oil.

13.  Strictly observe the bedroom for just sleeping.  Avoid being in the room except when about to go in bed.  Keep the room as quiet as possible.  Eliminate all sounds.

14.  Keep the room very clean and organized, and cool at night.  Use cotton sheets and a comfie comforter.  Invest in the best quality mattress and pillows.

15. Keep the room as dark as possible.

16.  Lie down and try and sleep.  After 10 minutes count sheep or something else in your mind.  Don't go more than 20 minutes awake in bed.  Leave the room and do something routine and boring for 15 minutes and then go back to bed.  Repeat cycle as needed until you fall asleep.  Same if you wake back up.

17.  Always get up at the same time every morning.

18. Buy a book about sleep hygeine.

19. Consult a sleep specialist for guidance.

20. Keep following this plan for as many weeks and months as it takes to establish healthy sleep.

[Carleendiane]

WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! I FORGOT TO OPEN GO TO BED!!!! Bed heads unite....in a cheerful good night!