Don't reach for that Ambien !!!!!

     So tonight I want to talk about insomnia! I got 2 hours of sleep last night... at one point I was getting so desperate I considered digging around the bathroom for my ambien. I got off ambien a long time ago because I started to need it and that scared me. Also all the new studies about the increased risk or death and cancer linked to sleeping pills alarmed me. So lets talk about what I did wrong yesterday that lead me to insomnia. First, I had caffeine which is a big no no for me and to make it worse I had it at bedtime! Second, I had my TV on, laptop on (mindlessly clicking, scrolling and liking everything on Facebook) and was texting friends. Lastly, I did not make it to the gym that day.

    Getting off a sleeping pill can be a nightmare. Your body has to get its own rhythm and you have to keep to a schedule. I could have slept in and "made up" my sleep but I would have disturbed my bodies nature clock. Even if I get no sleep or its the weekend I wake up at the same time everyday. Its the most important thing you can do to help beat insomnia besides giving your brain time to unwind. When its bedtime the TV needs to be off and the computer. For me going to the gym is key in staying off sleeping pills. Try to do some kind of workout during the day to help wear you out! 

  When all else fails I turn to native american music! That is what I did last night. First a little back story, I am 1/16 Cherokee on my dads side and although there is no native american blood on my moms side her father was made honorary chief of a blackfoot tribe when he helped save their land. So growing up I was exposed to a lot of native american things. My grandpa that was honorary chief was OBSESSED with all things native american. All we listened to in his car was native american music. The music had a strange effect on me.... It literally would knock me out! I don't know why but it did and fast. I remember driving to California with my family and riding with my grandparents as soon as I would get too chatty he would pop in a tape and I would be out! Of course my mom didn't appreciate this because after sleeping 8 hours in the car guess who didn't want to sleep when we would get to hotels? Anyway, to this day it still has the same effect on me so I wanted to share with my fibro friends. Why not give it a shot? Turn the lights off, get into bed, close your eyes and just listen to this  Click here!  What I like to do is hit play then slightly close my  laptop and put it under the bed so the light doesn't bother me.  Try it guys! Let me know what you think! I am curious to see if it helps anyone else!