Tackling insomnia

Now that I have shed the ties that choke the life out of you: Depression ~ it’s time to go after the other oppression sucking the life from my days: Insomnia. Last night was a great night. I slept with only one brief interruption from 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. I hardly ever stay up that late, but I hardly ever sleep that late either. The great thing in that it’s six hours sleep straight through. Usually I go to bed at 9 exhausted, fall asleep by 9:30 or 10 p.m. and wake up for good anytime between 12:30 and 3:30 a.m. However, even sleeping until 5:30, it’s 8 a.m. and I’m exhausted and ready for a nap.

I’m back after a nap! For this reason, I don’t think I just have insomnia. I believe I have a sleep disorder. I recently read an article from the Gelb Institute, a second generation Dental Group in New York, also billed as Sleep Disorder, TMJ, Headache, Sleep Apnea Specialists. They have invented an Airway Centric medical device that works differently from the TMJ device that I wear. They say the typical device like mine can make matters worse if you suffer from sleep disordered breathing. And sleep disordered breathing interferes with the all important REM stage, and true rest and rejuvenation of your body and mind.

The more of the article I read, the more it sounded like me. The symptoms include: teeth grinding, TMJ, anxiety, depression, cold intolerance, insomnia, daytime fatigue, falling asleep during the day, brain fog, scalloped tongue. I have all symptoms but the last two. I don’t what they mean.

After years of my doctor trying to get me to get a sleep study done and my thinking I could fix things on my own, I have an appointment on June 6th for a consultation. I resisted going, because I was sure I didn’t have sleep apnea. And I was afraid to wear a mask to sleep! Anxiety holding me back again. It never occurred to me it could be something else interfering with breathing and sleep quality!

Well, wish me luck my friends. This would be a real life changer. Sleeping at night. Not dreading it. Having energy during the day. Real productivity. An entire day’s worth. It sounds wonderful. I’m hoping and praying for the very best!