Insomnia

photo by Greg Lincoln

by Greg Lincoln

Not being able to sleep or having trouble staying asleep is called insomnia. Most all of us, unless you are one of the lucky few, have probably experienced insomnia which is very unpleasant and most of all annoying. It is especially maddening when you have to get up early in the morning to work or go to your appointments or if you have stuff to do.

Sometimes we blame others for waking us up right at the moment when we feel like we are finally going to drop off into slumber and they do something to wake us up.

For those who are going through a difficult and hard time in your life from losing someone you love, finding sleep may be a problem. Bereavement grief is the most heartbreaking of all sorrows known to man. The distress and upheaval it creates in your life causes emotional and physical symptoms. No activity, increased anxiety, headaches, stomachaches, inability to concentrate, fatigue, depression, and also insomnia can be symptoms. It runs the gamut.

During bereavement, others may encourage you to try to sleep because they care for you. Grieving and trying to sleep is a hard combination. Usually a person will cry themselves to sleep and that may be the only way at that time to find rest. It is a very sad time in their lives.

Prolonged insomnia can result in sleep deprivation. This can make the symptoms of your grieving even harder to bear, worsening everything. It is so very important to work on eliminating insomnia. Our loved ones need us to be there to make sound judgments and to remember things that need to be done.

One thing to do is to exercise. Another thing to do is to clean – even if you don’t want to. Clean your bathroom, kitchen, your closet. There are some of you who are natural-born cleaners. Do you know someone like that? We sure do. They are amazing. Sometimes it runs in the family.

If we work at it, we can find a way to sleep soundly at night, finding that deep regenerative slumber where your body heals itself from that day.

This past weekend we have been enjoying following the Kuskokwim 300, Bogus Creek 150, and Akiak Dash races. The mushers are inspiring, doing what they love, living their dreams. They are great role models for us all.

We all have activities that we enjoy doing, or have liked doing in the past that allow us quiet time and also physical activity. For some it is ice fishing where your mind takes you below the ice and you imagine what it looks like down there and what the fish are doing. For others it is the lifestyle of dog mushing. We can only imagine what it must feel like to be on a dog sled for miles and miles and the deep thoughts we could think about as the scenery passes by and the only noise is the sound of your sled runners on the snow and ice.

Quyana to everyone we have met this week, we appreciate your encouragement and we love the company of your friendship. Let us continue praying for our loved ones, and also include those who are suffering from insomnia, that they may find rest.

And congratulations to all the dog mushers and their incredible teams, to all their supporters and volunteers for a great weekend of racing!