Insomnia

[knirfie]

smoke some weed, that gets me sleeping when i have insomnia, of course, here in the netherlands it's legal!

[Gurm]

Yes, I think I said most of this, but let's recap...

1. Endorphins promote feelings of well-being. If you are feeling good, it's easier to relax. Hence post-nookie sleepiness.

2. Eating produces instant drowsiness as digestion begins... it's called "post-prandial drowsiness". However, as digestion really kicks into gear, your body starts burning more energy, and you can wake up. NO EATING WITHIN SEVERAL HOURS OF BEDTIME.

3. Melatonin works. However, as mentioned it can put you OUT and if not properly dissipated can keep you from waking up properly. So if you don't intend to sleep from like 10-6 or something then this probably ISN'T the best of ideas.

4. "Herbal Sleeping Pills" are probably valerian root, hops, chamomile, etc. Valerian is the most common ingredient, and it really does work. Unlike melatonin, it helps you get back to a more natural rhythm... best effects are seen after a couple weeks of regular use.

5. Exercise (some people seem to think I have a problem with this... they apparently don't understand the difference between "sport" and "pro sports") is very helpful. However, you probably shouldn't exercise and then immediately try to sleep. Cool down and relax first, drink some water (or herbal tea, whatever - just non-caffeinated liquids), and wait an hour. THEN try to sleep.

I recommend what I ended up doing. I did the following:

- Herbal Tea (Republic's "Surrender to Sleep" Tea, double-bagged because it's a mild tea) about a half hour before bedtime.
- Alluna (Valerian/Hops herbal combo) about an hour before bed.
- Exercise (semi-vigorous walk in the evening... around 8PM).

But it took a week or so for all of that to kick in. During that week, in order to get to sleep, I took a micro-dose of the stuff the doctor gave me (lorazepam/ativan - benzodiazipate, basically - like a baby valium). Just once I tried over-the-counter sleeping pills. They put me out but I felt drugged the entire following day.

My personal problem now is that I can't STAY asleep. Specifically in the morning. After like 5 or 5:30 AM my bowels start working, and I am just AWAKE. Still dead tired, still wanna sleep, but not happening. Although yesterday I did nap on the couch from 7-8AM. That was a good time. I really REALLY like sleep.

- Gurm

[Greebe]

Had a cold front pass through here lastnight with very erie fog engulfing us just prior. Ended up shutting everything down as we also experienced very bad brownouts/blackouts in adjacient neighbourhoods. Anywho after a 6 Pack, some pizza and byock wings, slept like a baby.

I did take a melatonin tablet (3mg) prior and seeing the byock's wings are loaded with tryptophan, everythings sus'd out and upto par again

Sleep is good

[Fat Tone]

Sleep...I think I remember that. It's what you have BEFORE children, right?

[Wombat]

Almost, Tony. You're thinking of "sex."

[Fat Tone]

LOL.

It's kinda ironic that the result of a lack of contraception can be the best contraceptive there is.

[GNEP]

How is the little one anyway Tony? Are we gonna get some recent pics?

[Ajax]

Originally posted by Greebe
Anywho after a 6 Pack, some pizza and byock wings, slept like a baby.

Sleep is good

Poor Byock, you just can't win. Someone pass the BBQ sauce.

[Byock]

Originally posted by Ajax
Poor Byock, you just can't win. Someone pass the BBQ sauce.

I know..

I knew I was boring, but never knew I promoted putting people to sleep...

[Greebe]

Well you sure don't need them for flying, so I figured, Hey what the heck!

[Fat Tone]

Originally posted by GNEP
How is the little one anyway Tony? Are we gonna get some recent pics?

He's doing very nicely now thanks. He's making up for lost time since the operation and shooting back up to the 50% percentile.
He has a small hernia (looks like an 'outie') but that should take care of itself.

Here (1.5MB picture) is one taken this morning. Some cruel people say he looks like me

Cheers

T.

PS his hair and eyes are a lot lighter than they look. Somedays the eyes look blue, others brown.

[ZokesPro]

He looks like he's gonna clock someone on his left! Maybe he's destined to become a bouncer? j/k

Cute kid.
(he's got a cool shirt too)

[KvHagedorn]

Between the Melatonin ideas and Technoid's posting, something dawned on me. I think this must be why Scandinavians and Russians are sometimes so depressed. When there is too much or not enough daylight, it probably throws the body's hormone production all out of whack.

On the subject of falling asleep in class, I had a couple of fun experiences there. In high school once, I kept nodding off (literally) and suddenly was aware of everyone laughing at me because my head was bobbing up and down violently. The other time was in my freshman math class in college. The class was taught by a very nice but incredibly meek graduate assistant. I happened to be sitting at the very front of the class that day, so close to him that my foot was resting on the base of his podium. I passed out. Suddenly I was awakend by the sound of my own very loud open mouthed snoring.. my head had fallen backwards and my mouth was gaping wide open. To add to this embarassment, the teacher had brought cookies for the class that day, and seeing that I was now awake, offered me one, albeit with a very hurt expression on his face.

[Dr Mordrid]

You got it KVH....it's called Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The stats say that around 2% of people in northern latitudes have the severe form, with up to 10% suffering from sub-syndromal S.A.D., aka: "the winter blues".

The incidence of S.A.D. increases with distance from the equator, except when there is snow on the ground when it becomes less common. More women than men are diagnosed as having S.A.D. Young children and adolescents seem protected.

Typically the treatment is some form of "light therapy", which involves special fluorescent lamps being used by sufferers during the daylight hours. The theory is that this bright light lowers abnormally high melatonin levels brought on by the reduced ambient lighting and shorter winter days at those latitudes.

As for getting the body into a normal rhythm, melatonin is actually very good for this. Properly dosed and timed it helps reduce the effects of jet lag and can also help even the blind regain their circadian rhythms.

Dr. Mordrid

[James_D]

Originally posted by KvHagedorn
Between the Melatonin ideas and Technoid's posting, something dawned on me. I think this must be why Scandinavians and Russians are sometimes so depressed. When there is too much or not enough daylight, it probably throws the body's hormone production all out of whack...

Tsk.. well at least the Norweagens are not more depressed than the rest of Europe, and that includes the Norweagens living at Spitsbergen, wich are the people with the least sun during the winter periode. and the russians.. well their situations is kinda depressing. Once a great super power, and now well still a great country with a great people, but very very poor..

James