Optimizing sleep has become a trendy self-improvement topic. It’s pitched on podcast, in news stories, on wellness blogs and through social media. Companies are now trying to make money pitching “better, more effective sleep“.
They might be selling a product:
- Meditation app.
- CBD products.
- Unregulated Supplements.
- Herbal Tea.
- Diet Food.
- Body monitoring wearables.
Or they might be selling services:
- Online Therapy.
- Sleep Monitoring Services.
- Fitness Classes With Unproven Sleep Benefits.
- Wellness Services.
There have been times in my life when I had problems sleeping. Sometimes I couldn’t fall asleep and then eventually woke up exhausted after a few hours. Othertimes, I’d wake in the middle of the night and not be able to fall back asleep.
The worst was during my late 20s when I combined Prozac with drinking wine. I don’t think I slept through the night once for two years. I’m sure the fact that I had financial problems, step-children problems, was not exercising, had self-confidence issues, unaddressed childhood trauma and was stressed at work all contributed.
I didn’t have a sleep problem, I had a life problem.
No wonder I had problems sleeping!
My life was chaotic and unmanageable. I wanted solutions to my problems but it took all I could manage to push through each day as best I could.
Here’s the thing.
I wanted the Prozac to work.
It did eliminate my OCD that had become somewhat crippling. It majorly reduced my overall anxiety and worry levels. It made me ravenous all the time and I gained 60 lbs while on it. Also, it made it really hard for me to fall asleep.
At the time, the trade offs were worth the side effects. I discovered that drinking wine with dinner helped me chill out and fall asleep. I’d wake, fully agitated 4 hours later and not be able to fall back asleep. Still, it was better than not getting any sleep at all.
I quit Prozac after a year. I quit drinking about 5 years after that.
Eventually, my sleep problems went away when I :
- Quit Prozac.
- Stopped drinking.
- Cleaned up my diet.
- Began exercising again.
- Resolved my step-children issues.
- Got a better job.
- Made more money and got a handle on our debt.
- Joined AA and did therapy to address issues from my past (and present).
When I read about or listen to Millennials and GenZs today say they have difficulties with anxiety and sleeping, I listen for other clues. Often I hear the answers in their stories.
They don’t need another mediation app. They need to quit drinking.
A better set of sheets or an expensive foam mattress won’t fix their problem. They need to exercise more (I have to every day) to burn off energy and angst.
They won’t find an answer to their worries about finances, career and “making it” by vaping or using CBD oil. They need to spend less, see more and take a job that pays more vs. looking for “fulfillment at work”.
I’ve mentioned this before and will again. We already know how to solve most of our problems. We just don’t want to do it.
I get it. I was once there and felt stuck.
Getting unstuck for me required the great motivators of pain and failure, followed by action.
People rarely ask for my advice anymore. I’m not longer active in AA and since I retired my opportunity for mentoring have dwindled off.
But, if you happen to be one of my readers struggling with the same issues I once did, you too can get out.
Sleep tight.