Resolving difficulties getting to sleep can be so tiring

Drinks with some friends and, as usual lately, the conversation comes round to my sleep problems. I know that people talking about their difficulties sleeping is about as interesting as people talking about their dreams – so dull as to induce sleep in anyone except an insomniac. However, this is a problem that my friends seem to regard as their own personal challenge and they enjoy quizzing me as to whether their solutions have worked.

The trouble is, all their tips are totally different. Spray your pillow with this special lavender stuff, don’t use pillows, get up and make a hot drink, don’t get up or put the light on, have a nightcap or three, don’t drink alcohol before bed, keep a window open, keep the window closed, read before you go to sleep, have a bath an hour before bed, don’t read before you sleep – it’s frankly exhausting.

When we meet up, I have to go through the rigmarole of telling each of them I’ve tried their remedy and no, it’s still a problem, but thanks all the same.

I’m tempted to just pretend I’m sleeping like a log, but I suspect the reason the subject keeps coming up has to do with the bags under my red eyes, which are a dead giveaway.

I’ve tried all the various suggestions and reported back as best I can to whichever friend swears by that particular remedy to try to lessen their sense of disappointment.

I have begun to wonder whether the stress of trying all the options is interfering with my sleep.

Thing is, I have these periods of sleeplessness every so often and after a while it settles down and I get back to better nights’ rests, so I’m not too worried about it.

In the meantime, I’m sitting listening to two friends arguing for and against the merits of napping in the daytime while a third friend presses a herbal sleep remedy into my palm.

It’s sweet that they’re so concerned, but their wellmeaning help is giving me nightmares.

I decide the nightcap remedy may be the way to go and graciously accept a couple of drinks for medicinal purposes. It’s worth a try.

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I’m tempted to just pretend I’m sleeping like a log...