Tips from a non recovered insomniac

I have been suffering from insomnia for 5 years now.
Here is some tricks that I have learned help me. (This is a ongoing list).

Updated 9/14/12

- Try to keep a normal sleep schedule.
- Try to get 9 hours of sleep every night.
- I know that if I miss one night of sleep, it sets off slipper slope of no sleep and severe anxiety.
- I don't lay in bed for longer then 20 mins trying to fall asleep. I get up and read, take a bubble bath, etc.
- I don't try to do it on my own anymore. When I know I can't sleep, I don't try to do it alone. I take ambien.
- I got a scentsy burner in my bedroom. I keep it filled with the French Lavender Wax. The scent puts me to sleep, and the light from it keeps me calm when I have a night tare. I don't wake up to a completely dark room when I am in the middle of a full blown panic attack.
- I have Lenny the lamb that I keep filled with french lavender as well. Yes I sleep with a stuffed animal. But I snuggle out to him, and his lovely lavender smell, puts me to sleep.
- I don't do anything that takes a lot of brain power within a hour of bed time. I don't write a blog (yes, that takes too much work), I try to not think about problems.I try to not think about the past. Otherwise my brain will start over thinking, and I will lay awake thinking about it.
- I use a white noise app on my phone. The new casa is TOO quite! So quite that when I'm trying to fall asleep, my ears start ringing. I have my app set to be on for 45 mins, then it fades out. I like the dishwasher setting with a splash of rain. I love it.
- I keep my room cold and my bed warm.
- Alcohol makes me not sleep well.
- Exercise puts my ass to sleep. AM work outs are not my friend, but night works lovely.
- I removed all clocks out of my bedroom. Otherwise the alarm clock stares at me, taunting me, of how much sleep I'm not getting.

This is some small tips that help me a lot. This is a ongoing list which I may or may not add to.

Lenny at Camp Widow 2012

After weeks of bitching, I finally agreed to let Lenny join me in San Diego for Camp Widow.

Lenny spent most of the weekend sleeping.

But he joined us one night for drinks.

We went to dinner at Busters Beach House. Amazing food.

As Lenny is slurping down his margarita, I realized he was about to drink a heart.

Lenny, please don't drink the heart.

I have a secret

I have a secret.

I met someone. His name is Lenny.

Lenny came into my life on December 25th, 2011.

I asked my mom Santa for Lenny.

Santa brought me Lenny. I had no idea how helpful Lenny would be in my life.

He sleeps with me every night.

His soft fur is great for wiping away tears.

The best part of it all, he doesn't talk.
Ever.

Lately Lenny has been bugging me.

He wants a spot in my blog.

"Your blog is depressing, angry, cold, dark and scary. My life is Coo, and full of happy, fun filled adventures. You could blog my adventures. Make your blog happy and smell fab".

Lenny says.

With much battles, I have decided to shut Lenny up give Lenny his very own spot in my blog.

So here we go.

Meet Lenny!

I came home and found Lenny like this in my bed.

I don't ask questions about his sex life.

He doesn't ask questions about mine.