TabsMagic

A study has shown that it is possible to stock up on sleep in advance. The study revealed that people who get extra sleep and then go through a period of intense activity with less sleep are much better able to cope and recover than those who just had their regular sleep before hand.

A group of volunteers in the U.S. study conducted by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research agreed to change their sleep pattern in advance of a sleep deprivation test. The group was split in half and one half got extra sleep whereas the other half had the same as usual.

The next week the entire group were deprived of normal sleep, only receiving 3 hours a night. They were set a variety of activities and tasks of differing levels of complexity and it soon became apparent that those who had stored sleep were “more resilient during the sleep restriction,” said Tracy Rupp, the study leader.

Ms Rupp added that “They showed less performance deterioration with regards to reaction time and alertness than the group that had been given the habitual prior sleep.” Additionally, a week after the experiment ended the group members who had stored sleep were able to recover quicker than their counterparts.

“What we’re basically saying is if you fill up your reserves and pay back your sleep debt ahead of time, you’re better equipped to deal with the sleep loss challenge,” said Rupp, who in foresight suggested that “the operational planning could take this information into account and give soldiers additional sleep prior to a long term mission.”

When asked about the benefits of ‘napping’, Rupp responded, saying “Although this study didn’t use napping, it has been shown to be very effective, at least improving performance in the short term.

I recieved a question recently regarding a lady who had been suffering sleeping problems, she had tried the obvious relaxation methods and they were not helping , she was wondering if sleeping pills were the way to go…….

RIGHT- ahem…….
((clears throat and rolls up sleeves in a business like fashion…))

I have suffered bouts of chronic insomnia ever since my late teens. When in a chronic period 3 hours sleep a night to me would seem like bliss- I have done over 22 days without a single seconds sleep before- i was good for nothing!!

 I have had nights in labs with wires glued to my head measuring brain activity (at least they discovered i have one- much to my fathers shock!) done drug testing for new sleeping products (figured if i was not sleeping i may as well do something useful with myself)
Generally it is a living hell!!
Sounds to me like you have a mild case of stress related insomnia which most people experience at some point….
Valarian is very effective for most and safe and herbal….
Personally it didn’t even induce drowsiness but i would try it first as it may well do the trick without having to go to drugs……
But don’t worry about taking sleeping tablets either, you may only need a few nights worth to get you back into the routine of sleep……..
The best advice i can give is to accept it and stop worrying about not sleeping……..even try to enjoy it!!
If you have not fallen to sleep within 45 mins get up and do something else (watch some TV- read a book, get the ironing out the way!)
If you are lying there worrying or stressing about things you need to do, get up and write a list of how you will systematically deal with them the following day, this way you can consider them ‘dealt with’ and can stop going over them in your head…….

There are millions that will tell you that eating late makes sleeping a problem but personally I actually sleep better on a full stomach, and if a cup of camomile and a soak in the bath could help me I would not consider myself an insomniac…….

Try the basics first, make sure you are eating well and exercising enough as well as the hot bath and relaxation techniques, and if you are lucky they will relax you and you will sleep, if not then visit the dr for some tablets and do not feel bad about it- we all need a little shut eye, you will not be on them for long before the body clock kicks back in and does the rest for you……

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