Sleep

Sleep. It is everyone favorite past time. Everyone enjoys sleeping. I don't know anyone who doesn't. It is true, that there's always a minority number that doesn't agree with this statement. But to us normal folks, the time spent in our dreamland is precious.

I love to sleep to. Every moment unconscious is every moment I treasure. It is where all my wildest dreams and imaginations come true. Believe it or not, I think I have the ability to control my dreams. Unfortunately, lately I was unable to enjoy such things anymore. In fact, I'm lucky to be able to get a dreamless shuteye for a couple of good hours at night.

Last night alone, I woke up in the middle of the night for a quite number of times. I toss and turn all night trying to find the most comfortable position. I turned the air conditioner on and off. One moment I was turning on the music, another time I kept my room in silence. It was so frustrating. My eyes are swollen for not getting enough sleep.

Worst of all, this make me too fatigue to do anything during the day. And my parents aren't happy about it. Of course, they don't know the reason behind it. All they see is, I leave my room when the Sun is above the roof, and laze around all day. Sometimes they even caught me resting my eyes on the couch in the living room, and start nagging about how I wasted my semester break. When I try to explain that it is caused by lack of sleep, they say it all my fault for doing whatever I'm doing with my laptop. "Tu la, chatting malam2 saja tau." Parents. They always accused us of doing things we don't do. Yes, I do chat online. But they don't know I spent more time trying to get some sleep than chatting.

So, I went online (ain't that a surprise, NOT!) to find out more about my imsonia and what can I do to cure it. After all, July is coming fast, and I need to be in better health for the coming semester. Lack of sleep is equal to lack of brain power, lack of memory; and as a student, as a person with a responsibility, I need my brain in its best performance.

It is defined as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both, despite adequate opportunity and time to sleep, leading to impaired daytime functioning. Apparently, imsonia is very common and occurs 30%-50% of the general population. It affects people of all ages, although it is more common in adults and its frequency increases with ages. Some studies even shows than women are more frequently affected than men.

Imsonia has many causes. Among them are: situational and stress factors (jetlag, physical discomfort, cigarette smoking, caffeine intake, etc.); sleep hygiene (using the bedroom for things other than sleep, going to bed hungry, etc.); medical and psychiatric conditions (breathing problem, obesity, acid reflux, depression, etc.)

I think mine was triggered by my sleep hygiene. My bedroom is not a bedroom. It's an office. Or more. The laptop is here, so is the TV, printer, hi-fi, lots and lots of books. I always eat prior to sleep, after all, midnight snacks are fun. I always sleep in a room with too much noise, somehow I find rock music soothing. And I do my work on my bed.

Sleep hygiene is one of the components of non-medical treatments for insomnia and includes simple steps that may improve initiation and maintenance of sleep. Sleep hygiene consists of the following strategies:
-Sleep as much as possible to feel rested, then get out of bed (do not over-sleep).
-Maintain a regular sleep schedule.
-Do not force yourself to sleep.
-Do not drink caffeinated beverages in the afternoon or evening.
-Do not drink alcohol prior to going to bed.
-Do not smoke, especially in the evening.
-Adjust the bedroom environment to induce sleep.
-Do not go to bed hungry.
-Resolve stress and anxiety before going to bed.
-Exercise regularly, but not 4-5 hours prior to bed time.

It all seems to be a few simple steps. But that's so-called simple steps need pure discipline to imply it. Thankfully, I don't take caffeine or alcohol, so two steps crossed out of my list. Oh, I don't smoke, another one crossed. "Do not go to bed hungry"? But I'm always hungry. "Exercise regularly"? I'm already too do anything. "Sleep as much as possible to feel rested, then get out of bed (do not oversleep)"? Honey, I wish I can! I'm imsoniac! Gosh, sometimes these medical writers can be illogical.

Nevertheless, I will try my best to obey these "simple" steps as advised. Maybe not tonight. Starting tomorrow night, perhaps?