Need Sleep?

We all need sleep, and we've all had those days where we got less than we should have, and had to fight through the afternoon blahs. Or those nights were we couldn't fall asleep to save our lives, and we tossed and turned until finally it was easier to get up and drink coffee all day than try to fall asleep for another hour.

But those of us who suffer from fibromyalgia have an extra fillip to our sleep woes- we have the fun of, even after a full night's sleep, feeling like we've been hit by a truck while tossing and turning all night long. That's right, even after a full 8, or 10, or even 12 hours of sleep, we may wake up the next day feeling like we didn't sleep for a second!

So how can we possibly combat this? Is there a way to combat the sleep deprivation we feel even after sleeping? Well, there are certainly ways we can fight it.The first way is to get onto a regular sleep schedule. Even if you may feel like going to bed at 10pm one night, and 2am the next, if you've made 10pm your regular bedtime, lie down in bed at 10pm. Your body will thank you, because it has been proven that going to bed at the same time keeps your liver (your body's internal clock) programmed to release certain hormones that help your sleep deepen at the right times on target.

The second way is to try herbs or drugs. I generally recommend the herbal route first, because it is cheaper and more accessible for those of us who suffer who may not have insurance. Both valerian (which tastes awful) and melatonin are useful to help with those who have trouble falling asleep, and both herbs have also been proven to help aid with people who suffer from migraines. As ever, be cautious when starting to use any herb- and seek immediate medical help if you notice any unusual rashes or difficulty breathing! Take only the recommended dosage, and follow the directions on the bottle that you purchase to the letter.

If you are fortunate enough to have insurance and can seek medical care from a doctor, certainly do so. There are a ton of great medicines available to help you find more restful and restorative sleep, and not just the ones you see advertised on television. (I, personally, take a small dose of an anti-anxiety drug at bedtime prescribed to help me sleep, and it works like a charm.) You and your doctor can find the right drug, and the right dose to help you sleep.
The third thing that you can do is exercise. And I'm not talking about going to a gym, or wearing yourself out. But gentle stretching with a before-bed yoga routine can help you get your muscles and your mind wound down and prepared for sleep. (There's even a yoga video or DVD out there called "PM Yoga" that is ideal for use right before bed.) Certainly we've all had days where we've been really busy and we've fallen into bed and been asleep before our head hit the pillow- that's not exactly what I'm getting at. I'm talking about getting into a routine, where you climb into bed every night prepared for sleep, knowing that you're going to be able to fall asleep because your body is ready to take you there, and you won't have to fight to get the rest you need. The yoga- or whatever stretching routine works for you- can help you get to that point.
Sleep is too important to those of us with fibromyalgia for it to be something that we fight for. We need to make it an ally in our battle against the anguish of fibromyalgia pain. Hopefully these tips I've listed give you some ammunition that you can use to turn sleep from a hated enemy into your best friend in the war against anguish and sleeplessness.