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to Sleep
Thoughts
04 May 2010
The Worst Insomniac I Know
My
particular brand of insomnia is bad... really, really bad. I say
is, and not was, as I feel like I will always be an
insomniac whether or not I am sleeping well at any given time. Something
in my brain does not allow for the natural progression to sleep. No
doctor, therapist or psychologist has even come close to figuring out
what is wrong with my big flawed brain. With the exception of
prescribing sleeping pills the medical community has been of ZERO help.
I've been to Sleep Labs, had my
head X-rayed, had my thyroid checked, quit smoking, tried biofeedback,
meditated, exercised regularly and removed most identifiable stressors
out of my life... and yet I still could not fall asleep.
For me falling asleep was akin to collapsing from
exhaustion. Some nights I would quite literally stand on my feet to the
point of passing out. I would find myself running in place or faux tap
dancing to try to get tired. Now, I must admit having Tinnitus (ringing
ears) does not help with my sleep problem. There were times in my life
when I thought my trouble sleeping was 100% caused by the Tinnitus.
These days I believe that the Tinnitus is half the problem. I have come
to the conclusion that I have a complex. I call it Tinnitus Related
Sleep Disorder. If you Google that term you will not find it. It is an
orphan disease. My tinnitus combines with an always present
hyper-awareness that I have inherited genetically. In other words, my
flawed human brain is always set to DEFCON 1 and ready to defend and
protect 24/7. Why? I don't know. Maybe I descended from a long
line of palace guards or some Doberman Pinscher genes have made it into
my DNA.
Seeing
as I was on my own with this designer orphan insomnia disease/complex I
finally had enough. Years ago I began researching the natural
progression of wakefulness to sleep. I was surprised to learn about a
brainwave state called the Theta state. It is from the Theta brainwave
state that we humans jump off to deep sleep and usually into dreams. I
discovered that simply by visualizing a scene; and combining it with
naturally soothing sounds, sleep would come. The key is visualizing.
When we visualize we utilize the same part of the brain as when we
dream. This part of the big human brain is known as the Secondary Visual
Cortex. In a sense we are coaxing our brains into thinking it's already
asleep.
By visualizing via the mind's eye; while in a relaxed
state, we are building a bridge to deep sleep. It is a simple concept
that has worked wonders for me...
...and I'm the worst insomniac I know.
see also:
The Secondary Visual Cortex
Dream good dreams!
Brad McBride
Comments?
email me
