I’m really just the oposite. When I was a child I was so frightened at night that I would lay there with the covers up around my neck, eyes wide open, searching the darkness until dawn cracked the window. Often when I did sleep I had such horrendous nightmares that they woke me in a sweat, especially if my throat or ears were infected again and I ran a fever. My “fever dreams” were of formless, drifting, terrifying colors. I didn’t begin to sleep until well into my teens when I usually drank and/or smoked pot every night. For years during my marriage I didn’t sleep because my husband snored loud enough to wake the dead.
I sleep just fine now as long as something isn’t bothering me. Often I sleep so soundly that I don’t even move in the bed much at all. I wake up with “dead fish” arm having laid on it so long that it is paralyzed. I don’t move around much after years of sharing a double bed with a drunk. I just keep to my little few inches, clinging to the side of the bed. It’s a habit, because I’ve been divorced since 96. Sometimes I can go for weeks or months with what I call “interrupted” sleep. I will fall asleep just fine but wake up sometime in the middle of the night and not be able to get back. This is usually when I am stressing about something, money etc. But for most nights I sleep like a rock. I’m too old and been through too much at my age to still be afraid of things that go bump in the night. It’s the nutty people you meet during the day that scare the hell out of me now.
Anyhooo…Little things I’ve picked up about having a restful sleep…
Quiet and dark…if you sleep with the TV, radio, a lot of traffic noise or a snorer you may not be falling into a deep enough sleep. Hence you don’t feel rested in the morning. Light can have the same effect.
Stuff you eat before bed really can effect your sleep. After all your intestinal tract is processing while you’re trying to get some shut eye.
Temperature can ruin your sleep, if it’s too hot or too cold. (Personally I can lay there and sleep sweating for hours but if I get too cold forget it!)
The other poster’s advice about trying to think relaxing thoughts means a lot. I’m worn out most of the time from “single motherhood” but if I go to bed stressing on something I ain’t gonna cop many Zs.
I also seem to need a good firm mattress. I know some folks like water beds, and feather beds and floaty types of beds, but I personally need something firm. Those mattress commericals aren’t completely bogus. A lumpy mattress can ruin your sleep.
Position can also be a problem. You know they say you shouldn’t sleep on your tummy cause it throws your back out of line that kind of thing, but for the life of me I can’t fall asleep on my back, unless it’s on the couch.
Duration might be the problem. I remember something about them saying a good rule of thumb for an adult would be 5 to 8 hours. My sister said something about this to me the other day. She’d read that they’ve raised the 5 hour rule for adults, due to our stressful lives and that kind of thing. But I do know it is also possible to get too much sleep. Like when napping, a little 45 to 1 hour nap is better than 2 or more. It’s less likely to leave you with that whacked out feeling.
Oh well…got long winded…did I put you to sleep? Very topical for me today since I didn’t get but about 2 hours last night. I had a rough night myself.
Needs2know
