I have taken over the counter medication on numerous occasions and one time it will put me to sleep and I wake up feeling like I have a hangover and then next time I use it, I am so wound up that I might as well get up and clean the house. I have even on occasion used prescription medication and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. A good night sleep for me would be 5 hours uninterrupted sleep but that is rare to almost non-existant. I find many people around my age that are stating the same, they can't sleep. Are we so in overdrive for too long of period of times that we can't just switch it down in low gear ? I also think that sometimes weather influences all of us. Three people working yesterday had stated they got up at 3 AM and had to take something for a headache and none of them live close to each other. Are we intertwined so that we share our pain in ways that we don't even recognize? Lots of questions and no answers!
I can say for sure that sleep is important, stress reduction, eating right ,exercising and all of this mindful things help to balance us out and I will say my scale is often tipped too far to one side or the other. I know that things I should be doing, but as everyone else does... I have lots of excuses. I had yet another co-worker talk to me about diet and how they never eat any fruit or vegetables. My theory is junk in, junk out. You don't put sugar in your gas tank and expect your car to work so why would you do less for yourself and that sometimes our bodies are so out of whack they forget to make what we need and we may need to jumpstart the engine or give it a shot of oil or something to prime the pump. All these analogies and my point is that we all need to take better care of ourselves and medical professionals need to listen. Too many times, the I can't sleep or, I just don't feel good is just put in the category that this will go away or no need to intervene. We do know what is normal for us and what is not right and we need to follow through and keep the dialog going that this is not my normal. When your normal continues for too long of a period of time then it tips the scale. Alot of us out there have our scales tipped and although I don't have the answer, I suggest you keep pursuing it till something changes. Many people are turning to self medication over the counter answers when they aren't being listened too. The PM medications are flying of the shelf and this is not a good answer for a long term decision. Please talk to your physician and continue to pursue your issues. This is a mind body experience that we have to look at, not just one aspect but the whole thing. Everything affects everything else that is going on and if you get too far off balance something will fall. Take care of yourself and be proactive.. eat your fruit and vegetables and get plenty of exercise and rest and laughter and love... Making it a better day for me and those around me! S