Too much energy

1. 80

   lovetherainposted 4 years ago

   What do you do when You have too much mental energy, but no physical energy becasue you stayed up all night? When your brain just won't shut down.

   replyreport
   1. 77

      Kathryn L Hillposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      I have all sorts of advice about this subject.
      One thing is this:
      The younger you are, the better you sleep.
      If you are young, appreciate this fact and
      
                       Get as much sleep as you NEED.
      
      If you are older: Consistency is best. Get in bed before twelve midnight every night whether tired or not. Reading is helpful. Usually, reading in bed brings about a feeling of tiredness as your mind, heart and body become settled. The older you are, the longer this settling process takes. You just have to be patient. Let it happen. With consistency, it will.
      Consistency may take determination and self mastery.
      
      After you have mastered consistency, implement calmness:
      showers, hot baths, classical music, even a movie, if it is happy and mellow. Sometimes boring documentaries work too.

      replyreport
      1. 80

         lovetherainposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Kathryn.

         replyreport
         1. 77

            Kathryn L Hillposted 4 years agoin reply to this

            You're welcome.
            Also, I have learned that going to sleep on an empty stomach is easier for the brain. With food, it seems the stomach needs attention and wakes up the brain to digest it. So, dinner before dark.

            replyreport
      2. 77

         Kathryn L Hillposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         oh. and no technological screen time after 8 or 9:00 PM.

         replyreport
      3. 87

         MizBejabbersposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         I really like your answer, Kathryn. I was reading an article on this subject a few years ago, and I was shocked to read this advice: "If you have insomnia, don't reward yourself by reading." Ever since puberty I've been an insomniac, so I was seeking some good advice.
         He thinks reading is a REWARD for insomnia! Nothing could be farther from the truth. My reaction was "what turnip truck did this damnfool fall off?"  To me reading relaxes the mind and the body. That is, unless you are reading something troubling. I don't remember where I read this.

         replyreport
2. 87

   MizBejabbersposted 4 years ago

   One thing to remember is that we are all different individuals and what works for one person may not work for another. For instance, I notice that Kathryn says she's more comfortable on an empty stomach. I'm just the opposite, but I've had digestive problems all my adult life. When my stomach is empty, it starts to burn and keep me awake. I also have celiac and a dairy allergy (not lactose intolerance). I keep light snacks around such as boiled eggs, peanut butter, gluten free cookies or bars to snack on. Milk is recommended as a sleep aid by some experts, but that's out for me.
   In some of my studies, I've learned that some people, including me, do not have 24-hour Circadian Rhythms. Mine is somewhere between 25 and 26 hours. If I allow myself to follow a natural rhythm, I will go to bed one hour later each evening. So I have to set a bedtime. Since I am retired and a night person, I try to be in bed each evening by midnight and up by eight o'clock the next morning. It was really difficult for me to get to sleep early and be up by six thirty or so when I was working. So I had to resort to sleep aids. Even with them, it was at least eleven before I dropped off. Watch your Circadian Rhythm to see if you are one of "us."
   Another thing, if you have more than average difficulties, I suggest having a sleep study. I finally did, and right after I drifted off to sleep, the nurse came in and slapped a CPAP mask on my face. She said that I had stopped breathing 24 times the hour I was asleep. Now I find that I sleep much better by using the CPAP machine. You might be surprised at the difference one can make but only if you need it.
   Peace and sweet dreams.

   replyreport
   1. 77

      Kathryn L Hillposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting: Some people do not have 24-hour Circadian Rhythms. I wonder how come?

      replyreport
      1. 77

         Kathryn L Hillposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         "Mine is somewhere between 25 and 26 hours. If I allow myself to follow a natural rhythm, I will go to bed one hour later each evening. So I have to set a bedtime."
         
         Me TOO.

         replyreport
         1. 87

            MizBejabbersposted 4 years agoin reply to this

            I checked out some medical articles. This one claims that it is caused by a sleep disorder. I think they have it backwards. As a sufferer, I think the longer rhythm causes the disorder.
            https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23899423
            
            Take this with a grain of salt if you wish, but some people believe that most human souls came here from other planets. The ones with the longer Circadian Rhythms are believed to come from larger planets with longer rotations. Just repeatin' what I heard. LOL

            replyreport