Insomnia and I go way back. Like that one friend you never actually invited over but somehow never leaves, sleep has been a battle for as long as I can remember. Staying anywhere new meant staring at the ceiling all night, and afternoon naps? Might as well ask me to sprout wings and fly. Then cancer treatment came along, and sleep didn’t just get worse; it doubled down on its refusal to cooperate.
Throw ADHD into the mix, and you can probably guess how well “structured sleep routines” have gone for me. Let’s just say, my brain treats bedtime like a _suggestion_, not a rule. So I leaned on sleeping pills every night for eight years. They knocked me out, but restful sleep? Not exactly. And that’s not how I want this story to end.
So, I’ve made it my mission: to kick the sleeping pills, figure out what actually helps, and hopefully help a few fellow night owls in the process. If you’ve got a trick that works, tell me, because I need all the golden nuggets of wisdom I can get.
The Plan (or at least, something resembling one)
CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia). Apparently, it’s all about retraining my brain to stop sabotaging itself at bedtime. Sounds promising, so I’ll dive in and report back.
Next, natural remedies, herbal teas, lavender oil, all that good stuff. If chamomile decides to work its magic, fantastic. If not, well, at least my kitchen will smell nice.
**Mindfulness and meditation**? I try when I remember. It definitely helps me feel more grounded, but translating “peaceful” into “asleep” is still a work in progress. Maybe paired with something else, it’ll finally do the trick.
Next, I will tweak my routine but within reason. No, I won’t be taking a bath and switching off all screens by 9 p.m. like some kind of sleep saint. I have a life. Instead, I’ll make small, manageable shifts, dimming lights, aiming for consistency where I can, and cutting back on the worst offenders.
No guarantees, no quick fixes, just me figuring this out one restless night at a time. If you’ve got any wisdom to share, _please do_. Because if there’s one thing I know, it’s that sleepless nights are a whole lot easier when you don’t feel like you’re fighting them alone.
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