Goodnight, Sweetheart

Sleep. So taken for granted, unless you're not getting enough. Sleep deprivation can see your life slowly but surely unravel as you loose the ability to function fully, your mental state is not on full alert and your physical health slips as you're too tired to take care of yourself properly. Sleep is so much more crucial to our health than many of us realise.

I'm no stranger to sleep deprivation - I'm currently not getting enough sleep and its starting to take over my life. I'm so worried about not sleeping at night that I'm no doubt making it worse with my anxiety. Author Jessamyn West said 'sleeplessness is a desert without vegetation or inhabitants' - I can really relate to that at the moment, everything seems so much worse in the middle of the night when you're exhausted and desperately trying to sleep without success; daytimes are hell as you're so exhausted you can't carry out basic tasks properly. Its a vicious circle really. Also for the last few weeks I've been suffering from terrible writers block, but I'm not struggling to write about sleep deprivation which just shows how much it's on my mind!

Having suffered from sleep problems on and off for the last 2 years - since my Bipolar diagnosis - I have learnt that the best sleepers are those that have 2 bedtimes. The transition from wake time to sleep time is eased into with a period of relaxing activities an hour or so before you wish to sleep, allowing yourself time to unwind and switch off from your days activities.

Hot bath - the rise and then fall in your body temperature promotes drowsiness and relaxes you. Add some lavender essential oil to aid restfulness.

Journal - write down any issues, worries or problems from your day, clearing them from your mind.

Meditate, practise mindfulness or some breathing exercises to relax yourself and quiet your mind.

No 'screen time' - this includes computer, mobile phone, Ipad and television. The lights on the screens activate sensors in your brain, therefore not allowing you to 'switch off'. Read a book instead, this will help you to relax.

All of the above is referred to as 'sleep hygiene'.

My problem is, I have stopped following most of the rules of sleep hygiene. I reached a point a few weeks ago that I started sleeping quite well so, as is a very natural human reaction, I gradually stopped doing all the things that had originally helped me. I've slipped back into bad habits of watching television til late at night (darn those box sets!), I've stopped meditating and I look at stuff on my Ipad. Its like I'm trying to squeeze every ounce out of my day as I know how precious it is, without stopping to think of the detrimental effect this will have on my sleep. I do take sleeping pills prescribed by my Doctor but the thing is, they don't work on their own after a while, your body gets used to them so you have to practise good sleep hygiene too - not just take them, watch TV and wait for them to work.

So I've learnt that sometime I just have to go back to basics in order to keep myself stable and healthy. So, here goes my rock 'n' roll lifestyle Friday - first stop hot lavender bath, next stop meditation then to bed with a book and no screen time - hopefully I will find my way to the land of nod before midnight!

I love you, moon and stars, but I'm tired of making friends with you every night - please let me go.

Goodnight, sweetheart.