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Sleeping problems
Thu, 10/19/2006 - 19:57I have had epilepsy for five years. It is controlled, but is triggered by sleep deprivation, and I have horrible insomnia! I get in bed at 11 and don't fall asleep til 4 am. I always get songs stuck in my head. I have heard of other people having this problem - anyone know what to do?
Re: Sleeping problems
Submitted by Matthew on Fri, 2006-10-20 - 15:59
I also have some problems with insomnia, but not as much as you relate. I do have a lot of problems turning my mind "off", or relaxing mentally when I go to bed. The biggest help I have discovered for this is to cut way back on media; listen to less music, watch less tv, etc. All of these things have a tendency to make your mind go undirectedly. We live in such a media saturated culture that there is hardly any time when we are not on sensory input overload. If you have ever been away from all of this for any period of time, you can relate to how uncomfortable it is when you return to it. Conversely, once you are used to it, it is uncomfortable to do without it. I think that this is why we imagine things (songs, etc.) when we go to bed, our mind is simply on autopilot. I think getting away from all of this stuff really reduces stress and helps reduce seizures. When I was at college I did not watch tv or listen to radio at all, watched a movie less than once a month, and only put on music once a week or less, and then for a short period. I learned how to calm my mind down. I was able to fall asleep better, and slept more soundly. Until this I never realized how much sensory overload was going on in my normal life. I would walk into a shopping mall and all of the lights, advertising, and distracting stuff I had never really noticed before was almost painful. I needed to totally calm down when I got home. But, when I was away from it all I was very relaxed, focused, and my seizures were much reduced. My mind was clear for thinking and studying. I was on the lowest dose of medication in my life, 1/3 of what I had been on. Now I'm in the midst of it again and can hardly stand to have silence for 10 minutes. I am taking more medicine once again. (And spending too much time on the internet.)