Insomnia

From Victor Shamas

Hi Marcin,

I do have a few thoughts on this:

1. The Bootzin technique, developed by a friend and mentor of mine, is a simple set of guidelines addressing what psychologists call “sleep hygiene.” Most people use their beds for multiple purposes, including as a makeshift office. Anyone who deals with insomnia is better off using bed only for sleep and sex. Here’s the list (the first few items only; the stuff about warm milk and lavender was added by the author of this article):

http://www.theaword.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37:the-bootzin-technique&catid=71:symptoms-insomnia&Itemid=41

2. Melatonin has been shown to help reset circadian rhythms in treating jet lag. It might be worth a try.

3. Catnip is used by herbalists as a treatment for insomnia. The one period of my life when I experienced prolonged insomnia, I made a tea from catnip and chamomile and drank it about half an hour before going to bed. It was effective.

4. From an Ayurvedic perspective, the kind of insomnia you described is considered a pitta condition. Maria said that if you send her a pic of your tongue she can do a quick assessment of that.

5. When I did my big Repose study in 2011, I wasn’t even considering looking at the effects of Repose on sleep. But two of my research participants reported that they were able to overcome chronic insomnia simply by lying in Repose three times a day for seven minutes over the course of 30 days. Although this is just anecdotal, one woman’s story in particular was so dramatic that I featured it in the Repose book. Since that time, I’ve gotten feedback from numerous people who say that Repose just before bed helps them fall asleep. I’ve found that to be true for myself, as well.

6. Related to that, the challenge is to disengage your mind before bed. Whatever rituals you find that can help you do that are beneficial. Avoid physical activity or anything too arousing 1-2 hours before bedtime, as well as a meal or heavy snack.

7. Are naps an option for you? That 9 am grogginess sounds like an opportunity for a short nap. I’m a big believer in naps and there is plenty of evidence to support their efficacy.

Victor