I jump into bed and turn the light off; or I put my book down, roll over and shut my eyes.
And then I lay there, eyes shut, trying to sleep, but I simply… can’t. Not for 20, 30, 60 minutes — I always do fall asleep, but it’s never quick and easy. I’m always the the one that has to try and fall asleep while the girl or boy next to me snores unabatedly.
From what I can tell it’s because I’m always thinking about stuff. Laying alone in the dark silence of my bedroom is usually the first chance I get to actually think, much like when you’re on a long train journey with no one to interrupt you, or in the sun absorbing some rays. In the normal passage of our day, we get very little time to stop and think about things; life is too noisy! Laying there in bed, cosy, under a duvet, thoughts can finally make themselves heard.
I’m not even talking about worry or anxiety, it’s just thoughts and possibilities bouncing around my head. Some of my best ideas have come to me a few minutes before sleep finally takes hold.
Does anyone else experience the same thing? Does anyone else struggle to empty their mind of thoughts? Is this what insomnia actually is?
Bonus points if you can identify this really damn noisy bird that always hangs around my garden:
pinkjellybaby
Jun 11, 2009
Yup…I’m the same a lot of the time…and (unless I’m stressing) it’s about random things. Like thinking about all the nice things I want to get to decorate the bedroom and how it will look…
Some nights though, I’m so tired, I’m asleep before I know it!
sebastian
Jun 11, 2009
Sometimes I think I’m not even tired — just my eyes are exhausted from hours of computer use.
I should probably exercise a little more so that I am actually tired when I finally go to bed. Or come up with a way of using my eyes less…
pinkjellybaby
Jun 11, 2009
Oh yes, tired eyes, awake body and mind!
Exercise certainly helps. I think I’ve been asleep when my head hit the pillow all this week. I’m wearing myself out!
Amy
Jun 11, 2009
Mmm, it depends.
Some nights I can’t sleep at all so I usually get up after a couple of hours of lying there and do something productive, like reading. My family claims that exercise helps but I don’t agree…once my body doesn’t want to sleep, or has passed my sleepiness threshold that’s pretty much it – it takes a lot for me to sleep after that.
On the other hand, I have those nights where I lie down and 5 minutes later I’m zonked. And it’s a yes to the ideas before sleep; sadly, most of the time I’m too tired to get back up, so they get lost.
Also, i would identify the bird but my ‘Birds of Britain’ book is back in Penang, along with my plant one (I normally use it to identify hemlock).
sebastian
Jun 11, 2009
(So as to not poison yourself when you’re exploring in the wild outback…?)
I’ve started keeping a notepad by my bed for that very reason — I can normally recall my thoughts the next morning, but occasionally I forget — they’re there, right on the tip of my tongue, but just outside my recall. Damn.
There are also notepads with lights attached to them for that very purpose, for that Eureka! moment that we all occasionally experience in bed. Or for writing down successful sex positions.
I would get up, but I know that’d just result in me being tired earlier the next day, and it’s fairly important to maintain my ‘routine’. Better to just rest my body, even if I can’t sleep, I guess
pinkjellybaby
Jun 11, 2009
You should have a nice (proper) hot chocolate with some brandy in it…that’ll sort you out!
Marmalady
Jun 11, 2009
possibly a juvenile magpie:
http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/
select “magpie” from the side bar –theres a picture of a juvenile that looks pretty similar
sebastian
Jun 11, 2009
Ah-hah a JUVENILE! That’s why he’s a noisy little shit. And that would explain why it’s noisier now than it’s ever been before. At least the pigeons just wander around quietly… until the crows turn up and scare everyone else away.
Alison
Jun 11, 2009
Would be, if I werent’ so bloody exhausted all the time.
I think you have something in common with my son though. Took his two hours to go to sleep tonight. This must improve soon! For the love of sanity.
And now, speaking of sleep…
Alison
Jun 11, 2009
Hmmm, interesting, i did not know there was an English magpie. We have these;
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=24
They of course come with a warning;
“Some Australian Magpies can be very aggressive during breeding season and attacks on humans and pets can occur.”
That’s the time of year that school kids wear their bike helmets when walking to school because the insane birds swoop. Nice birdsong though.
floreta
Jun 11, 2009
i used to have this problem and even still, the night is when my thoughts start to spin and come alive. but i don’t have problems sleeping… usually. lately i’ve just been sooo dang tired!
Hannah
Jun 11, 2009
I have the same problem at night too. I think it’s because when I’m in school I do all my writing at night so I’m programmed to be up and doing something when I should be sleeping. Might not be true insomnia…but it’s close.
that bird looks ashamed. did you yell at it before taking it’s picture?
verybadcat
Jun 11, 2009
I think I’ve slept maybe 10 hours since Sunday night. I know of which you speak. For me, it’s that a lot of times when I lay down, that’s my first chance to think uninterrupted. I can’t quit thinking. Plus, when I’m stressed? My thoughts race. Faster, faster, faster.
Criminy I need a nap.
Eric
Jun 11, 2009
Overuse of italics causes insomnia. Seriously. Wiki that shit.
Abi
Jun 11, 2009
I suffer from this!. You know I NEVER sleep. I agree that most good ideas and thoughts can take root at this time of night (or if you are me- early hours of the morning). I think if you are the kind of person who thinks, yet is constantly occupied during waking hours then it all catches up with you by lights out. Keep a notebook by the bed. And a blankin under your pillow :D.
Jo
Jun 11, 2009
I find it useful to do something ‘mindless ‘ before going to bed.I can’t go straight to bed after doing something fun or exciting as I am too alert. If you have been raiding or something you will be too full of adrenalin to sleep!
Therefore I read soppy books and do the washing up or something before turning in….
Yes, it is a magpie.
( I make that 3 ‘somethings’ in one paragraph! Go me!)
Eleni
Jun 11, 2009
I almost never have problems falling asleep and sleeping through the night, but just yesterday I woke up early in the morning and couldn’t fall back to sleep for maybe an hour. I could blame the stupid robin chirping outside my window, but, as you said, the real problem was all the thoughts buzzing in my head. I kept telling myself “Stop thinking. Stop thinking!” but that’s not something that is easy to control.
All I can offer is that a few times when I was stressed out and had trouble falling asleep because I was thinking about all these stressful things, I got myself to fall asleep listening to Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” which is a very relaxing song that even has appropriate lyrics to help me clear my mind and fall asleep.
Melissa
Jun 11, 2009
I used to get this problem all the time. I would take long walks (like, 6-8 miles) and get the thinking and exercise done at the same time! It certainly helped me sort my thoughts out and I would always be tired by the time I found my way back to bed. Though you do have to have a good chunk of time allocated. I also find that if you have “busy work” to do with your hands (dishes, floor scrubbing, sewing, in my instance) it makes little opportunities for your mind to exercise during the day, and then it’s not all pent up for nighttime!
Hezabelle
Jun 11, 2009
I’ve always had issues with that… That’s why I read or watch tv until I can’t possibly keep my eyes open any longer. If that fails I just daydream until I fall asleep – but the moment I let myself start thinking… I’m done for. I won’t sleep all night.
sebastian
Jun 12, 2009
Well, I’m glad (OK, wrong word) that so many other people experience (suffer?) the same fate as I in the bedroom. You know, I bet the best solution would be to have lots and lots of sex until I pass out with exhaustion — no one else brought that up though! Curious…
Eric, I give you one of my favourite quotes from the awesome Pratchett:
“He could think in italics. Such people need watching. Preferably from a safe distance.” (Men at Arms)
(Not the full quote, but hey, I can’t find my copy of the damn book…)
Thanks for relating me to a child, Alison.
Regarding the bird (which we have confirmed as magpie! A magpie that apparently should be exterminated because they get into fights with other birds which often result in death, or serious injury — that’s what I’m told…!) there was a lovely photo taken just before this one, where it has a tuft of dead grass in its mouth. But he was moving too quickly, so the photo’s blurry
So you get one of his ass instead…
Sounds like, in the absence of a warm, easy-lovin’ girl to keep me warm at night, I need to start taking constitutional walks; or perhaps start masturbating a bit more? I’ll let you know which one works out better.
Rica
Jun 12, 2009
Ok, this is weird, I just saw a bird like that a few minutes ago. ><
Off-topic but it was weird
sebastian
Jun 12, 2009
Do you not have magpies in your part of the world?
Eric
Jun 12, 2009
I prefer people who think in yellow bubbles.
Andhari
Jun 12, 2009
I thought you know me perfectly well to know I have exactly the same symptoms. I always think the idea is to wear yourself out so bad until you finally feel sleepy. Try chai tea too, Sebbie. Hope it works. *hug*
sebastian
Jun 12, 2009
I thought you were going to recommend I screw the brains out of some hot model…
But I’ll chai tea!
Just Playing Pretend
Jun 12, 2009
I’ve been seriously struggling with the sleeping thing the past few months too. I was lying in bed for 2, 3, 4 hours and not falling asleep. I ended up getting hospitalized for exhaustion which was a royal pain in my ass. They did end up diganosing me with anxiety and gave me anxiety medication. Not sleeping meds. I now sleep great and I don’t feel hung over in the morning. It’s a beautiful thing but probably not helpful for you. Sorry about that.
chrome3d
Jun 14, 2009
60 minutes and you have insomnia? hmm, you still have many wonderful discoveries in the world of sleepless nights as you grow older. Everything is fine as long as you can unconnect from the world in the night. 2 nights in a row without it and you are in deep shit.