I don't usually have a problem falling asleep but then, often, I have hypnogogic hallucinations right after I've fallen asleep that wake me up and freak my shit out. I can usually still fall right back to sleep but sometimes I'm too freaked out esp if Bob is not in town. Am lucky though, I know! It's nothing like real insomnia...can be slightly dangerous, though, one time I thought someone was attacking me and I stood up on the bed and punched out a blade of the ceiling fan. nuts!

Have you heard or read Mike Birbiglia, Lisa? He has some crazy fucking stories about his sleep disorder.

Have you heard or read Mike Birbiglia, Lisa? He has some crazy fucking stories about his sleep disorder.

Oh! I've heard of him but I'm not sure I've heard him talk about that. It's really gotten bad in the last year or so. I think it's exasperated by not getting enough sleep plus stress.

I have melatonin, valerian and magnesium on hand and they sometimes help me with reaching that drowsy phase so I can fall asleep. If nothing else is working and I'm still awake after midnight, my fail safe of late has been a trip to the 24 hr gym for a 20 minute swim. It's almost certain that I'll fall right to sleep once I get home and back in bed.

Finally watched Mad Men tonight. After I was accidentally spoiled for the big twist, yes, but still enjoyable.

I'm jealous of people who go straight to sleep. I can't do that without drugs. Sometimes I'll fall asleep on my own after an hour or so, or I'll stay awake half the night staring at the ceiling.

I used to be able to fall asleep within minutes (or less) of my head hitting the pillow. And I read somewhere that that's a sign of a chronic sleep deficit, but since I had been that way my entire life, I think that maybe it *might* be a sign of a chronic sleep deficit for *some* people, *some* of the time, but not always.

Now I need drugs to fall asleep. I wish I could regain the beautiful sleep of my pre-30s life. I would fall asleep quickly, if I woke up it was just to pee (and I would make my way to the bathroom and back in a barely-awake haze), and then sleep soundly until maybe 3 minutes before my alarm, when I would awaken refreshed.

No, seriously. Every goddamn night.

Now it's a mockery involving drugs and bug-eyed resentful staring at the clock at 3:57 a.m., and being bludgeoned awake by the alarm.

Bah.

Have you heard or read Mike Birbiglia, Lisa?

Is that the sleepwalking guy who, like, jumped out a window and stuff?

Oh! I've heard of him but I'm not sure I've heard him talk about that.

Listen to him on the rerun This American Life from last week. But don't listen to the part about bugs, or you'll never sleep again.

Is that the sleepwalking guy who, like, jumped out a window and stuff?

Yep. Our own (former) Rio called his book "sadlarious," which sounds about right.

I'm jealous of people who go straight to sleep. I can't do that without drugs. Sometimes I'll fall asleep on my own after an hour or so, or I'll stay awake half the night staring at the ceiling.

I've had some form of insomnia all my life; there has always been at least two nights a week (and never the same two) where I would be wide awake until 3 or 4 AM. It's just gotten worse as I've gotten older.

When I visited my brother in September, I found that one glass of Wild Turkey put me to sleep like magic. I just really don't see that as a healthy every-night option, y'know?