They should leave the clocks alone at this point and let Nature take its course, not sure of the official reasons why this practice is still followed, had to do with the farmers years ago and maybe schoolkids getting hit in the dark so dawn "starts" earlier in late Fall but anyway we all set our clocks ahead by one hour last Sunday morning (2 AM to be exact) and the next day I felt like there were a pair of invisible hands pushing on my shoulders, "come on you slowpoke!", after such an enjoyable day (the weather was fabulous) you can't help looking at the clock and when it says 5 you go it should really be 4. Let President McCain or HillObama work with the new Congress to get rid of this anachronism, it upsets our sleep patterns and biorhythms, whew!!! into the dustbin of History.
Guru Watch
He even looks a little like Dr. Wayne Dyer so I had to do a double take but caught Dr. Daniel Amen's show on some PBS station the other night. Now these gurus all begin good and rational and that's how they suck you in, just look at the sheeple in their audiences with their mouths agape in Awe, but then they say something that you really have to question and one of Dr. Amen's points about brain health, the subject of his lecture, is this, that if you don't get a minimum of 6 hours sleep every night you will suffer from chronic stress. Now not to downplay the importance of a good night's sleep not to mention its pleasures but there were many times I went to work the next day with 4 or 5 hours sleep and functioned fine, it's not ideal and you're likely to feel somewhat tired during the second half of the day but imo his position seems rather radical, many of us don't get the mandated 8 hours of sleep a night for various reasons and yet we live our lives. One wonders where the very lucrative pharmaceutical industry ties into all of this, is there some Lunesta connection but keep your eye on the gurus folks, a new feature here (woo hoo!).
I honestly consider the late Dr. Abraham Low's works to be priceless, founder of Recovery in the '50s you don't hear of him anymore for one simple reason, there's no money in his work. His chapters on insomniacs are positively fascinating. There were sleep studies done with the "sleepless" and while these people swore they were awake the whole night interns heard them snoring and they didn't even awaken to pin pricks. Dr. Low's main point, true insomnia is rare and either an indicator of a severe mental disorder or an acute organic disease otherwise we all sleep well or poor to varying degrees. Says the worst thing insomniacs do is get up and use their muscles, go in the kitchen for a bite to eat and if we may modernize his work here they may even blog from time to time. So don't drink too many beverages so you don't keep getting up to use the bathroom but just lie in bed with your eyes closed for hours. There may be times when you will swear you haven't slept a wink but then Dr. Low emphasizes you are likely to have remembered some dream or tailend of a dream which proves you slept at least for a time.
ReplyDeleteGuru watch, that'll be fun!
ReplyDeleteAs for Daylight savings time, I agree we should dump it.
...computer session just ended so had to login again,
ReplyDeleteto continue his points, he says poor sleep is not injurious to our overall health just our comfort, I can see the Lunesta company calling him a quack but he was quite brilliant in his own day. Even if you don't sleep well at least rest your eyes by keeping them closed, get up and watch tv or get a glass of water, toss and turn all night and you'll feel like crap the next day. Other colleagues of his have made the point that unresolved issues are a major reason for sleep deprivation, try resolving the problems of your life while you're awake or if you can't resolve them at least compromise and look at it from a new angle...beats some of the side-effects of the more popular sleep-aids out there like getting in your car and driving!!! or else having sex, geez and you didn't even get to enjoy it or use protection.
As for Daylight Savings Time I agree we should dump it.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many of us feel the same way and can form a movement. Not that it's the most important issue facing the Nation but it's been a thorn in our collective side for way too long now.
I've used that Mid Nite a few times and it does work nicely without side effects.
ReplyDeleteThere are indeed more pressing issues than Daylight Savings Time, but it could be a start into taking rational approaches for a change.
ReplyDeleteMy problem anymore is trying to be more wakeful.
ReplyDeleteThe positive side of the Mid-Nite you mention is that it doesn't leave you feeling groggy the next day and it's all herbal. Here's the problem with some sleep-aids and it isn't much considered or talked about, some of them are too weak and don't do the trick so not only do they not "knock" you out but they will leave you feeling tired the next day without the benefit of the sleep you were seeking. I've heard people say this and maybe it's just a theory but they claim your body sometimes develops an immunity to things like Advil and maybe even some sleep-aids, it's almost like it ain't natural and your body's rejecting it. When I went to have my minor surgery a week ago everyone, nurses and doctors, seemed dead set against Advil, one nurse told me it stays in your system for 3-5 days and it's not good to use before surgery, they highly recommend Tylenol instead but this begs the question if it stays in your system for that long how does it interact with things like alcohol? I've come across a heavy drinker or two who are Advil addicts for lack of a better term and spaced-out would be an understatement, food for thought.
ReplyDeleteHeck they're talking about how our water supplies have drugs in them now.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonder we're coherent at all anymore.
IMO things like brandy or a fine cognac in moderation do the trick just fine, gets you in that dreamy frame of mind. My theory is that drinks like whiskey and vodka don't have the same effect to relax you, they keep you up and magnify your emotions which is why it's probably the main culprit in your classic barroom brawl. I'm chock full of theories lately but I've seen what a poor selection of beverage does in people's lives, they have no system like don't drink after 11 if you have to work the next day.
ReplyDeleteChlorine and fluoride mainly and in small amounts but may explain the whole spring water movement. Re the Twinkie I have no use for it, don't know what it is and you said it'd probably survive a nuclear holocaust.
ReplyDeleteNot just flouride, no other drugs like ibuprofen, because they natually go through our bodies and our human waste does get treated and reconsumed.
ReplyDeleteI can try to find a link on the drugs in water study, I did think of you when I saw the headline but it wasn't about tainted water purposely.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I do need to think about starting some dinner, take care and talk to you later.
btw, I may qualify as an Advil addict, although I vary between Advil, Motrin and Excederin. If you have suggestions for pain relief (mostly headache), I am open to any.
ReplyDeleteOur human waste does get treated and reconsumed.
ReplyDeleteI thought only J.D. Salinger was into this.
Advil and Motrin, the biggie ingredient here is ibuprofen which is supposed to be great for things like back pain but after my visit to the hospital with all that anti-Advil bias I mentioned I'm going with the Tylenol when I need it.
ReplyDeleteTylenol doesn't usually cut it for me. But I haven't taken anything today, for a change.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they all have stock in Tylenol whereas at some other hospital they all have stock in Advil and say the opposite,
ReplyDeletelol
I hear Aleve is pretty good and lasts 12 hours and is great for folks with arthritis. People who have used it have said to me they like it.
ReplyDeleteOh watch out Beth!! there's a guru behind you. Don't listen to him, don't listen to him, keep walking
ReplyDeleteear muffs ear muffs
now he's opening up his suitcase 'cause you stopped, has some DVDs he's showing you, a book, $159.99,
RUN BETH!!!
You're on guru watch again I see.
ReplyDeleteYou own stock in Aleve then? lol
ReplyDeleteActually I don't own stock in anything although maybe I should. I'd probably go with the Aleve though if I had severe pain of some kind like arthritis. Had an echocardiogram done this morning, takes several minutes and it's kinda weird at first seeing your heart beat and its different parts in b/w and color. Asked her how'd it go and she said the doc will analyze it but there's nothing I should be concerned about. Hopefully the doctors appointments are petering out now, they all did a fine job just the same. Girl at work told me after you reach beyond 50 you'll be going all the time, something to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteSo this is how you'll be spending all your days off of work then, at doctors?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I have an appointment myself I need to go to, so I will have to read your blog more when I return.
Not all my days off Beth and it wasn't my idea. As I've said doctors today want that long-term relationship, they keep making appointments for stuff, can't really argue with it after all it's good to have an echo but after awhile you just want your day off to be your day off, wake up in the morning and have a cup of coffee and plan your day the way you want. Kinda beats work though just the same except that surgery thing wasn't too much fun especially the needle of the local anesthetic, UGH!! and the wait but I always find time to blog. It's like after my surgery my first impulse was to go to the changing room and get dressed and go home but the nurse said I have to relax a few minutes then she brought me some oj but that's z whose first impulse when he wakes up in the morning is to blog away.
ReplyDeleteSince part of the subject here is sleep a woman told me a funny story, she dreamt once that she couldn't sleep (lol) and that this is such a waste. Well at least it's still sleep and this thing does happen on occasion, not too often though, you're thinking too much while you're sleeping, you're sleeping but you think you're not and then you just wake up, I think it's because we're like gerbils on this wheel called Life. More interesting than a sleeping pill I guess.
ReplyDelete