All my life sleeping was never an issue for me. I could fall asleep at the drop of a dime. But in 2008, I developed insomnia.
I heard about people not being able to sleep and such. Some would go days without sleep and I just couldn't imagine having to function like that.
In 2008 I would become one of those people. I wouldn't go days without sleeping, but hours without sleeping and then spend the next day wondering what I was going to do.
The reason for the onset of my insomnia was caused by issues at my job in 2008 in which a good number of us were very possibly going to lose our jobs. I went through four months of wondering (July - November). I kept being assured by others at work that everything was going to be fine, but my gut told me different. I was torn between listening to those that had been at the company for years or my Scorpio gut feeling. I didn't know which. ( What was going on at the company is not the focus of this article so I am keeping that out).
During this time I thought my sleepless nights were just a product of what I was going through and it will end. Well it didn't - until this year - 2011.
November 26, 2011 was my last day at my job. It was a relief and I know I would spend December chilling and taking a trip to Arizona during Christmas week and a few days after the new year. Why not? I didn't have a job to go back to or anything. All though I was more at ease with things going on, I still struggled with insomnia but accepted it as part of my life.
2009 had me attending IT school and collecting unemployment (that's another talk show). 2010 saw me with a new job (not in the IT field, but I'm OK with that). 2011 still sees me at the same job and glad to say, me possibly being cured of insomnia. I decided to ween myself off the sleeping pills and that no easy task. I started with eliminating Ambien from my life but keeping other aids around. Well having back ups only made me think I needed them and thus I took them. It wasn't until a few weeks ago I realized that I definitely have to stop relying on medications to help me sleep or my insomnia would turn into an addiction of sleeping pills whether it be prescription or over the counter.
The first night I went to bed without a sleep aid had me a bit worried I wouldn't sleep through the night. Then I realized that that thinking DEFINITELY wouldn't have me sleep through the night. Granted, I woke up here and there, but was able to go right back to sleep. And by morning's light I felt more rested than with the aid of sleeping pills. I liked this feeling and thus gave it a shot again then next night and the night after that.
Its been about two weeks now of me going to sleep on my own, but I do keep sleep aids in the house as a just in case, but I try not to think of them and when I do I just remind myself that I don't need them. Mind over matter. If I don't mind, it don't matter.
My sleeping aids consisted of the following:
I loved Ambien. That's some good stuff to have handy. Midnight was the next best thing because you take it anytime of the night. Tylenol PM and generic forms from Walgreens are good but seem to stay with you a bit the next day. Unisom is the worst!!!!
I am not promoting sleeping pills because the best sleep is the one you can give yourself. And if you do get on sleeping pills I would suggest Midnight.
Part of me going to sleep naturally again came from me stumbling upon an episode of Dr. Oz's show while changing the channel and this episode was about sleep and he gave some great tips. Here is the link to the article:
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/dr-ozs-get-back-sleep-plan
I hope I never suffer from insomnia like I did and if I should, I will find othe avenues to conquer it without relying on sleeping pills.
Until next time:
"Nothing cures insomnia like the realization that it's time to get up." ~Author Unknown
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