Video: Sleep Is Healing

Therese,
I know you haven't experienced the changes aging bring to us (at least to ME), but one of the most frustrting pieces for me has been my inability to adjust after an all-nighter. Back in my college and early career days, I could handlr=e a night without sleep and still function relatively well the next day. NO MORE!!!Now that I'm AARP eigible (that comes at fifty) a sleepless night makes me totally WORTHLESS the following day, inappropriately sleepy during the daylight hours and wanting to do nothing but nap! Consequently, most nights I'm heading to bed by 8:30 or so no matter WHAT! Of course, my single/ childless at home status makes that possible. I've also begun using a popular OTC sleep aid (with the approval of my doctor, and my pain med (Vicodin) also helps sometimes, though it doesn't always. As an ACOA, i'm also wary of addiction (I AM a thirty-year smoker, after all, as well as a chocoholic) I say that as long as your doc is in on it, take the D---N meds! You're smart and self-connected enough to monitor any signs of a developing dependency and can monitor tyourself for that. My son and sisters fought my pain meds for a long time until my doc told them that unless I began asking for increased doses, a stronger med or more frequent refills she was more concerned with myphysical comfort than addiction. Frankly, I don't "get" what the attraction to codiene IS in terms of its increased use as a recreational drug; it gives me no "buzz" at all, only a blessed lightening of my constant pain. When I underwent a sleep tudy following my stroke, I was told that I have BOTH sleep apnea(Which probably contributed to the stroke) AND restless leg syndrome, both of which are currently untreated. I couldn't handle the CPAP machine for the apnea because of my allergies, and the preferred med for RLS is not a good mix with my nood leveler. Consequently, a really "good" night's sleep remains illusory for me. I also have PYSD related nightmares which get in the way and am a sleeptalker when they occur. (I've been taped, so I know it to be true.) According to the sleep doc who oversaw my test, sleep is actually the ONLY time our bodies can truly heal, so you're right on target with the title to this video. The Bible says somewhere (can't chapter and verse it) that God gives sleep to his beloved, so for a while the inner critic in me interpreted my sleep issues as yet another "proof" that I wasn't among that group, but I've finally been able to put that away for the most part. I can't tell you how much I love you and admite your strength, courage and commitment to the rest of us I think of you whenever I hear the song(by Alabama, I believe) "Angels Among Us." You certainly come to me "in my darkest hours and "...show mwe how to live, teach me how to give and guide me with the light of love..." I continue to pray for you, dear heart. You do whatever you and your doc think is best to overcome this latest obstacle to your ongoing recovery and to H--LL with the critics!

Therese,

I have tried all kinds of potential solutions in very frustrating attempts at resolving my inability to fall asleep at night. In addition, I have also restricted the types of intake that work against the possibility to fall asleep shortly after going to bed. Admittedly, I am and always have been a night person, but have finally hit on my, and possibly your, personal prayer to a good, no make that a GREAT night's sleep - - SEX!

Absolutely the best remedy I have "come" across - - not only that, but my girlfriend finds it to be the perfect prelude for her most restful nights. I hope it works for you and your readers - - if not, maybe it's just me, so feel free to drop me a line!

I mean this in only the best possible sense of sharing, and spresding my good to others (well, not ALL others, but in your case, I am willing to make the sacrifice!)

cheers,

bf

Therese, I found this video on "cafeteria Catholics" enlightening about how people--not just Catholics, but all who find their faith preserved by the wall of black-and-white thinking--use dogma and ideology to protect themselves. As you note, it's easy to hide behind black and white thinking, the lure is always there even for those who find it important to move beyond it and to "nuance" our thought in the light of circumstances that may place one moral demand in confrontation with another.

It's easy for a listener who knows nothing of your struggles--or of anyone else's for that matter-to say you shouldn't be spreading your dangerous ideas on the air, when they have no clue of the risk to the pregnant mother (and baby!) who must go off her medication during her pregnancy. Nor do they have a clue what it means to wrestle with the awareness that this illness is something that could be passed on to future generations by your choice to have a child--or to not use birth control.

Moral absolutism is a comfortable, clean, and neat vantage point where everything fits, there are no loose ends, and life is clearcut and simple. Nor is there any need for nor any room for mercy and grace in such an uptight black and white world.

Cafeteria Catholic!? More like Courageous Catholic. I applaud and support your willingness to face ambiguity, which Gilda Radner called "Delicious Ambiguity". Don't give in to the demons of absolutism and dogmatism. "Luth"