Lack of Sleep
January 28th, 2008 by Liz Kreger
Okay, weirdness prevails. There’s a discussion on one of my loops regarding the effect some medications have on creativity. I’d read some, skip others, go back and read them because the subject matter was interesting. Granted, I don’t take anything for high blood pressure, ADS or high cholesterol. So I was able to read these posts with some detachment.
Then someone said something about sleep aids. Okay, you got me there. I’ve been on Lorazapan for a couple of years because I rarely sleep the night through. It was initially prescribed to me while I was going through chemo — getting enough sleep was essential while going through such a harsh treatment. Worked wonderfully. I slept the night through, woke up refreshed and alert. Wow! Great stuff.
What I didn’t notice was that I’d stopped dreaming. Or if I was, I had no recollection of them. Now, as writers, we all know how important it is to dream. It’s essential to the creative portion of our brains. Its where we get our ideas, where our inspiration can come from. Some dreams did come through … usually just before it was time for me to wake up. I’m in the habit of getting up at 6:00 a.m. on weekends, take some meds (not the sleeping stuff) and go back to bed. That’s when I remember my dreams. No doubt long after the Lorazapan has worn off.
The sad thing is, I’d gotten so used to not dreaming that I didn’t even notice the absence until these loop posts came through. The realization stunned me. How can I go so long without realizing such an important part of me was missing?
So the other day, I experimented. I went without the drug and guess what? I dreamed up a storm! All night long. Better yet … I remember what I dreamed about. Slept like crap and felt like I was sleepwalking for part of the day, but I felt whole.
How ‘bout you? Have you ever noticed the absence of dreaming? And if so, what was your reaction?
26 Responses to “Lack of Sleep”
Thanks for this post. I am going through a MAJOR insomniac period in my life. I never have before, but a combination of dealing with an aging parent relying on me (add to that he’s blind), four kids, too many deadlines, and working really hard so I can bank money to pay for oldest’s college tuition next year has left me . . . exhausted. Toss in some hormone issues and you have a mess. I fall asleep, but I don’t STAY asleep. A toddler pretty much insures that as the baby STILL sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night. What was I thinking having one in college and one a baby with two in between–LOL! Anyway, I contemplated, for the first time in my life, calling my doctor and saying, “Look buddy, prescribe me something to make me sleep well.” But I fear precisely that–no dreams or residual tiredness anyway, so thanks . . . I’m going to tough it out. I absolutely need my dreams.
E
Erica, have you thought of Melatonin? You can check out the information at the Mayo Clinic site. Some people report more dreams taking it than without.
Liz, I dream but often don’t remember them. I woke up a few weeks ago thinking “that was a good dream”, the kind that makes you wake with a smile, feeling the world was good — but I couldn’t remember what I dreamed about. I still wonder what it was.
Hi edie:
I have thought about it. Right now, I’m exercising more to tire myself out.
E
Liz, I desperately need my dreaming too! I’m not on any meds, and take chamomile tea if insomnia rears its ugly head. There’s nothing like those early seconds of waking when dream flashes occur. Sometimes it takes half a day to fully surface, and its like dejavu at that point. Love the mystery!
I miss them when I don’t remember.
That is really rough, Erica. The thing about Lorazapan is that its not addictive … at least not physically. Mentally? Maybe. I did find myself relying on it more and more but there are times when a good night’s sleep is essential. Sounds like you can use that. (The good night’s sleep, that is)
Exercising will tire you enough to send you to sleep and I would recommend trying Edie’s method or even LaD’s with the chamomile tea.
It has been a week since I stopped using the drug and I am sleeping better. It does help that a couple of nights I was so exhausted that I’d sleep pretty good, but that’s only because of the crappy sleep I had the night before.
I’m trying the Melatonin, Edie. Don’t know yet if its working or if its going to become another crutch. The whole take a pill (whether the drug or a supplement) before bed might still be psychological.
I’m gonna go out and get some decent chamomile tea, LaD. The stuff they sell at the grocery store is junk. I’m going to hit a tea place here in Milwaukee. That’s the real deal.
Melatonin was great for me during a period where my sleep cycles were really screwed up. Sleep and I don’t get along. I hate going to sleep because I hate missing out on life, but then I can’t get up. It is definitely the hardest thing I do every day.
(And I’m sorry, if I had seen your post this morning, I would’ve linked to you! I posted around the same topic, LOL!)
Did you really, Spy?
Great minds … and all that.
Wonder if its something with being a writer that makes a lot of us bad sleepers. I never had trouble sleeping until I began writing more often. Any other writers seem to have sleep problems?
I totally understand outside forces that can interfer with sleep … such as Erica’s, deadlines, health issues, etc., but does being a writer accelerate the process?
I don’t always remember my dreams, but when I do, they’re usually doozies. I can’t ever remember a time when I was routinely not dreaming. I guess I haven’t been on any meds that interfere. Rarely I will wake in the middle of the night having an oh-so-delightful panic attack and have to take a chill pill, but I never noticed if that prevented dreams.
I think its consistent use of a sleep aid that messes things up, Jody. This was such a gradual process that I didn’t even notice the lack of dreams until it was pointed out on that loop. Pitiful.
I love it when I dream vividly. Amazing what the subconscious mind will come up with.
I don’t dream much, and what I do dream I often forget. That said, this past week I have had some really vivid dreams. In two of them I have heroes for two more books!
Doncha love it when that happens, Karin? That’s what I missed most. In dreams you can find the answers to problems you have with your plot or your characters.
In your case, it was creating new characters. Fabulous!
If I don’t dream I can’t tell the passing of time in my sleep and I wake up feeling like I just went to sleep. But, if I dream long, intricate dreams I wake up feeling like I slept forever.
I’ve sworn off Nyquil because it gives me nightmares I can’t wake up from. Brrrrr! Scary!!
Okay, I’ll agree. Nyquil is scary. That’s one of the few over the counter medicines that actually knocks me out. Ick.
I know what you mean, Jill about monitoring your rest by your dreams. There are times when you’re awake hourly and you wonder if you’d even fallen asleep in the first place. Those are followed by my “zombie days” when you’re almost too tired to function.
LOL, Zombie days! I love it. That is exactly how I feel after a night of no sleep.
No dreaming problems here. I can’t recall the last time I didn’t dream. They’re are so much fun that I cherish sleeping more than I do eating. The action adventure ones are always the best, but I find it takes something like Advil PM or Thera Flu to get a really good one going. Especially Thera Flu.
My mom uses melatonin, and has some of the strangest, most vivid, most interestingly crazy dreams I’ve heard of…. like talking bears and houses that get up and go on vacations with their owners.
I tend to dream very vividly, and quite often. But I rarely remember them unless I happen to wake up in the middle of one. It’s funny, I’ll wake up thinking I’ll never forget this one, go back to sleep and promply forget it the next morning.
I must say though. I think I could survive better with no dreams than lack of sleep. Lack of sleep is a creativity killer for me. Zombie doesn’t even come close to it. It’s like the creativity just isn’t there to tap.
Too funny, Theresa. I like the one with talking bears. I do tend to remember my dreams. Actually had a couple of pretty good ones last night. It’s a relief. Sleeping better … even without the crutch.
And I’m apparently the opposite without dreams. I can get by on less sleep … but without dreams? To me that the creativity killer.
Even more vivid dreams with TheraFlu? LOL. Let’s see, Nyquil causes nightmares and TheraFlu encourages good dreams. Wonder what else is out there (over the counter) that sets off the subconcious.
Liz, I find it waxed and wanes for me. I go through periods of dreaming vividly and remembering them, and periods, like now, when I know I dream, but I don’t remember anything. I’ve never taken a sleeping tablet, so I can’t comment there. A couple of my friends use Rescue Remedy (a homeopathic pill) which is a relaxant, to help them sleep, and I’m assuming it works for them or they wouldn’t take it, but I haven’t had to. With my youngest only just sleeping through the night, I don’t need any chemical means of falling asleep, I’m just thrilled to get a straight 7 hours or so.
Rescue Remedy. I’ll have to remember that. If you get a chance, ask your friends about it and how it mixes with dreaming.
I hear ya about finally getting to sleep without a young child constantly waking. I’d LOVE to have seven hours of straight sleep. That’s rare.
I don’t like to dream because I always have nightmares. Which would work great if I wrote horror, which I don’t. I’d rather sleep through the night.
Liz, I googled Rescue Remedy, and here is the link: http://www.rescueremedy.com/.
If I were guaranteed nightmares, I wouldn’t want to dream either, Barb. Yuk. Talk about getting no rest at all. No good dreams at all? Sad.
Thanx, Michelle. I’ll check it out when I get to work. Running a little late this mornin’. Gotta get the little darlin’ to school.
I went through a very stressful period a few months ago and noticed that during that time I almost never dreamed. After I started doing the yoga regularly I started dreaming more and more vividly.