Kristin, do you have a sense of when in the night your most vividly remembered dreams happen?
I have no idea if this is applicable to you, but I've found for myself that if I wake up/get woken up early, and then try to go back to sleep (real sleep, I mean, not hitting the snooze button sleep), if I can't be asleep for at least two hours, it's just not worth it because of my dreams. For some reason, I almost always dream in thtat situation, I always remember them, and they leave me feeling less rested because of it.
Oh, and no caffeine 4 hours or so before bedtime.
Caffeine actually stays in your system much longer than that - if it is causing a sleep issue, you really shouldn't have any except in the couple of hours after you get up. Sucky.
Oh, Gus. Crap. I'm sitting here thinking of regrets, chiefly that we never met in person, but I know you would just give me grief for that. You'll be seriously missed. Seriously. Damn.
Thanks kimi and Trudy.
Kristin, have you tried melatonin? I've used valerian and passion flower, but find that melatonin is the best at keeping me asleep when that has been a problem for me.
I titled my New Year's Eve post in honor of Gus, given the content. If only I could have learned from him.
Thanks for everyone's feedback. I think my first step is to meet with my PCP and possibly get a referral to a sleep center and then go from there. I will definitely look into using some of the natural remedies you suggested.
(Oh, and I rarely have caffeine after noon, so I doubt it's that.) Thanks everyone.
get a referral to a sleep center and then go from there.
Doublecheck that your insurance will cover the sleep center. The tests that Hubby's taken at sleep centers have been well over a thousand dollars each.
Still thinking of Gus. I found the Xena forum on WXing (btw, Versus is GF): [link]
Melatonin doesn't so much help with the going to sleep as it helps with the quality of sleep. I would suggest that, Kristin.
Yes, Gus is very much on my mind as well. Many times I have thought of him since he passed and just missed him without knowing I would not be seeing him post again.
I did go and have a nice long visit with my next door neighbor who lost her husband recently. I had been avoiding it even though I knew the holidays must have been hard. I baked a nice banana nut bread for her. So, I am a bad friend for taking so long to visit with her, and a good friend for finally doing the right thing.
Laura, no one is timing you. When you're grieving, the late arrivals mean a great deal too.
And also, who am I talking to. You know all this. But in case you need a reminder, she'll love you just as much for coming in the possibly down period post holidays.
