Why can't I sleep? It is 2:00 AM Eastern

[Chris_]

I have been having nightmares lately -- last night I was in a hospital with IV tubes in my arms that moved with me when I walked and I went to "my" bed there was a military guy whose hands and legs were stumps and on fire.  He looked at me and laughed and said something like "see? it could be worse!"

Amateur or Professional Psychs -- have at it. 

I think I am afraid to sleep.  But I have no specific anxieties.  I have a beautiful wife that loves me unconditionally, as I do her.  My mortgage is old-fashioned fixed at 5% even and will be paid off in 3 years.  I have no credit card debt to speak of and have fast cash reserves of one month gross income and back cash reserves of 6 months' gross income.  My 20.25K (Oh, I mean 401K) is taking a hit but I won't freaking look at that for 20 years so who gives a damn?

The good news is that I have gotten a LOT of work done -- but I will have to test it all tomorrow.

Help appreciated.  Also, feel free to post your insomnia and weird dreams.  And maybe explain why "weird" has the i before e.

[Texacon]

Who knows why some of us can't sleep.  Here it is ..... 3:00 am in Texas and I have been up for about an hour.  It just wasn't working so I figured I would see who was up and around.

Hope you finally got some sleep.

KC

[thundley4]

My nightmares usually involve snakes, hundreds of snakes, which is weird, because I'm not afraid of snakes. It must be some sort of symbolism . I tend to get 5-6 hours of sleep, no matter what time I go to bed and then am awake for the day.

[Airwolf]

I was up till 1 am last night myself. Just couldn't sleep because I had napped earlier in the evening. Your dreams however could just be stress related and not mean that much or it could be somethiong else freedumb. If I was to guess from the description of your dream I'd say your thinking to much about what this country will be like once Barry the Ears gets in office.

[Chris_]

I was up till 1 am last night myself. Just couldn't sleep because I had napped earlier in the evening. Your dreams however could just be stress related and not mean that much or it could be somethiong else freedumb. If I was to guess from the description of your dream I'd say your thinking to much about what this country will be like once Barry the Ears gets in office.

Wow -- I didn't think politics was causing me subconscious anxiety, but that could very well be true. I am deeply concerned about how badly the messiahnfihrer will ruin this country, for generations to come.  Thank God I don't have kids.

And my work was crap -- I am still having problems that I am fixing now.

And on second reading, the word "weird" has the "e" before the "i" and it still doesn't make sense.

[Inga]

Freedumb2003-Take it or leave it, symbolism;

Hospital-comes as a rejuvenation advisement.

Tubing-stands for extenisons,a connecting element.

Arm-signifies personal work/effects applied to one's purpose.

Walking-connotes progression.

Bed-cautions against over doing, need for rest.

Military-alludes to controlling factors in one's life.

Soldier-charactizes a person who upholds the honor & safety of others, fighting for what one believes in. May also indicate a forced participation of a conflict, one who was drawn in.

Hand-connotes service done for others.

Legs-denotes a supportive aspect in one's life.

Amputation- strongly suggest the need to cut off somthing in one's life. Could be relationship, habit, addiction,etc.

Amputee-points to the wholeness of one's beingness comprised of heart & soul,emotions& thoughts.

Fire-Means extreme emotional intensity.

Think about it. Or a dream is just a dream.....

[Inga]

thundley4-Symbolism:

Snakes(nonpoisonous)-exemplifies cleverness,proceeding with discernment.

Snakes(venomous)-pertains to swift retaliations or attacks.

Think about it-or a dream is just a dream.

[Rebel]

Question: Topic: Why can't I sleep? It is 2:00 AM Eastern

Answer: Because you're on the computer at 2:00 AM Eastern.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Oh good grief... go to bed you.

[Chris_]

Oh good grief... go to bed you.

Seriously -- I go to bed and toss and turn. Then I hop on to the laptop in hopes that I might be lulled to sleep. 

I am worried that only 2 or 3 hours of sleep a night over an extended period will not be very good for me.

What is keeping me awake?  Does anyone have any ideas on how to sleep? I rerun my favorite movies in my mind, and I see them all the way through the ending credits.

I don't want to do booze -- it just knocks you out, but there is a 3 hour rising brain activity period (+/-) after which you wake up even worse.  Sleep pills have NO affect on me at all.

I really need some help here.  I have what I call "epic dreams."  They go on for weeks or even months -- a whole universe inside my mind.  I dream inside my dreams and live a whole other life there.  Sadly, that life seems to be one of anxiety and troubled thoughts.

Can you imagine what it is like to wake up after aging 2 or 3 years and having a life you never had?  That is what it has been like, nightly.

I try to preprogram myself to deflect these assaults on my psyche, but that doesn't seem to work. The human mind is amazing -- and perverse.

 

[Rebel]

Seriously -- I go to bed and toss and turn. Then I hop on to the laptop in hopes that I might be lulled to sleep. 

What, they don't sell Tequila in Cali?

[Chris_]

What, they don't sell Tequila in Cali?

Not the good stuff -- you have to go to Mexico for that.  After you drink Herradura Silver, all other tequila tastes like turpentine.

[Chris_]

A good bout of sex always puts me to sleep.

Last time you hurt my ass too much.

[debk]

Free.....I have problems with dreams. I dream in color.

They are two different types...I'm either a participant or it's like I'm watching a movie.

Some nights are really active, others aren't. The ones that aren't....I usually can get some sleep. According to my other half....he can talk to me, I will answer ....sometimes I make sense and sometimes I don't. I usually have no memory of talking.

Some nights I can remember the next day what I dreamt and others I can't. I can also have dreams that continue from one night to the next.

I have repeat dreams.

As a child I would dream about being attacked by a German shephard while playing in a yard with other children. One little kid was hurt. Those dreams occurred until I was about 12 and told my mother about them....it had really happened when I was about 2. Never had another one again....but I still remember them.

I also had dreams that my mother would die...but my dad and I would live. I never knew how she died ....she just did. She was killed in a car accident 4 days after my 13th birthday. I was in the backseat, my dad was driving. Haven't had one since it happened.

I still have dreams about waking up in the destroyed car and the rescue workers trying to get me out. I was in the hospital for 3.5 weeks before I had the dream the first time. I woke up screaming....well screaming as much as I could with my lower face all wired together. I was terrified. They told me it was what had really happened. I will have the dream...and I can't move and my face hurts incredibly. It will be 43 years on Dec 26.

There is no logic to why I dream. Some are so incredibly vivid.....others are like through a fog. I've thought about going through a sleep study....but I'm afraid of what else I might find out about my life.

3-4 advils before I go to bed work fairly well....and a "hot flash" pill ( ) when I remember to take it.

I have found that any other type of medication, even vitamins, will increase the dream activity.

I try to read or fall asleep to the tv....it seems to help separate my mind from the day's activities or worrying about stuff that I really can't do anything about. If that doesn't work....counting backwards from 100,000.....seriously. If I screw up ....I start over. I rarely make it to 975,000. I have to concentrate whereas counting forward is to easy and quick.  

[Chris_]

deb, that is serious trauma -- some people never shake it off.

I guess I am tired of living someone else's life.

Thanks for sharing that -- it helps a lot to know others are in the same boat and to see how you cope.

[debk]

<<<<hugs>>>>

[Chris_]

<<<<hugs>>>>

*hugs* bachatcha, darlin'

Lets both take a running shot at getting to sleep tonight. :)

[debk]

I'm trying to decide whether to complete an interior tonight....or go to bed and read....I'm thinkin' I'm going to read and finish the report in the morning.

Take some advil (provided it doesn't bother you).....4 of them is the same as an 800 motrin. .....and see if it helps.

I do think we will both be better after the election.....provided McCain wins. If not....we might be worse.

[Chris_]

I'm trying to decide whether to complete an interior tonight....or go to bed and read....I'm thinkin' I'm going to read and finish the report in the morning.

Take some advil (provided it doesn't bother you).....4 of them is the same as an 800 motrin. .....and see if it helps.

I do think we will both be better after the election.....provided McCain wins. If not....we might be worse. :thatsright:

Should te messiahnfuhrer win, my mental plan is to laugh while the unemployment lines grow with his supporters.  I have been checking around and I have job opportunities about 5 deep, including the public sector, should my current employer stumble.  Let them eat cake.

[RobJohnson]

I think I am afraid to sleep. 

I've been there, it sucks.

[debk]

So Free....how did you do last night?


We aren't talking about dreams anymore at bedtime, ok?

I have figured out that when there is extreme pressure on your chest at night...force yourself to wake up. It may be a cat! Last night I was dreaming that I was having trouble breathing....well duh....had a 10 pound cat sound asleep on my chest!!! Don't know what Jazz's problem was last night, but she was determined to lay on me know matter what position I was in. It was cold last night and all 4 cats were snuggled in with us.....Puff kept trying to get under the covers.

I need a nap...........

[debk]

When I was very young, I think about 6, I had recurring nightmares about an unbalanced washing machine.
You know how they "walk" across the floor?
Scared the crap outta me.

I'm guessing that when you were even younger, you either saw a real one do it at home or somebody's house you were at....but don't have a conscious memory of it, yet it really scared you....or you saw a commercial on tv with a "dancing" washing machine. Long ago, washing machines would do that when they had sheets, towels or something else that was really heavy and would unbalance in the machine. Now, they have all those "balancers" or whatever they are called.

I seem to remember there was a commercial where a washing machine moved across the floor. You may have been almost asleep when you saw it or had a fever.

I say that about the fever because my daughter had a Raggedy Ann doll that was about 3 feet tall that sat on her dresser until she was about 5 and had a high fever and the doll came to "life". She became terrified of the doll...I had to get rid of it. She didn't even want it in the house. She is still doesn't like Raggedy Ann's and she's
almost 30.

[RobJohnson]

When I was very young, I think about 6, I had recurring nightmares about an unbalanced washing machine.
You know how they "walk" across the floor?
Scared the crap outta me.

Now that is really deep.

[Texacon]

I don't have nightmares.  I don't sleep well and haven't for a very long time.  I have learned to live with it because to 'fix it' requires going to a head shrinker to obtain medication that I would have to stay on.  I would rather not sleep.  I talked to my doc and in order to get medication for ADD I have to have a psychiatrist diagnose then the doc will prescribe what I need.

It is a pain in the ass.  ADD mirrors depression with slight differences.  When the doc put me on depression meds promising "If you don't have depression these won't affect you" I had a serious panic attack.  When I confronted him about it he said "Telling me depression meds gave you a panic attack is like telling me you got a headache after I gave you an aspirin".

Bah, these assholes don't know what head medicine does to you.  They just prescribe them then take notes.

KC

[RobJohnson]

I don't have nightmares.  I don't sleep well and haven't for a very long time.  I have learned to live with it because to 'fix it' requires going to a head shrinker to obtain medication that I would have to stay on.  I would rather not sleep.  I talked to my doc and in order to get medication for ADD I have to have a psychiatrist diagnose then the doc will prescribe what I need.

It is a pain in the ass.  ADD mirrors depression with slight differences.  When the doc put me on depression meds promising "If you don't have depression these won't affect you" I had a serious panic attack.  When I confronted him about it he said "Telling me depression meds gave you a panic attack is like telling me you got a headache after I gave you an aspirin".

Bah, these assholes don't know what head medicine does to you.  They just prescribe them then take notes.

KC

Everyone should be on medication...it's great for my profit sharing.