29 May 2015

32 ways to sleep

32 ways to sleep
Article provided by R.M.Villoria - Author / SM Publicist

It’s oh, I don't know, 3 o'clock in the freaking morning, and I’m lying in bed, staring at the ceiling and wanting to cry with frustration. I'm trying to stay hopeful about my ability to catch a few hours of shut eye before work the next morning, but I've been up until 6:00am (not by choice) enough times in my life to know the beast of insomnia can’t always be tamed.
I'm certainly not alone. Insomnia is incredibly common in the U.S., with 30 to 40 percent of American adults experiencing some symptoms of insomnia each year. So for all those seasoned insomniacs out there — and for anyone who occasionally can’t fall or stay asleep — we’ve rounded up some short- and long- term strategies for getting a good night’s rest. And if you’re reading this at 3 am because your mind won’t stop running? Don’t worry; we have tips for what you can do right now to improve the chances of getting (at least some) sleep.
Sleep Gap — The Need-to-Know
Insomnia is defined as the inability to fall asleep, remain asleep, or get the amount of sleep an individual needs to wake up feeling rested. Its symptoms include difficulty falling asleep, frequent wake-ups during the night, waking up too early in the morning, daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. Insomnia can be acute (lasting one to several nights) or chronic (lasting from a month to years). It’s also the most common sleep complaint among Americans (especially women).
Trouble sleeping is often a symptom of another disease or condition, such as depression, chronic pain, medications, or stress, which might explain why it’s so common. Most often, insomnia stems from a combination of factors, including medical and psychological issues, scheduling issues, relationships conflicts, and behavioral factors (poor bedtime routines, physical hyperactivity, watching TV right before bed, etc.).

Beyond Counting Sheep — Your Action Plan
Whether you're a chronic insomniac or just have the occasional restless night, read on for lasting sleep solutions.
Try these strategies for gradually improving sleep quality over time.
Keep track. Record how much and when you sleep, fatigue levels throughout the day, and any other symptoms. This serves two purposes: It can identify activities that help or hurt the chances of a good night’s rest, and it’s a useful tool for a doctor or therapist, should you decide to see one. Digital programs like Zeo,YawnLog, and a variety of apps can all make snooze tracking easier.
Try therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia is a pretty common technique. Also called CBT-I, the therapy typically involves self-monitoring, mental strategies (like developing positive thoughts about sleep), and creating an environment that promotes sleep — and it’s been shown to improve sleep quality. Learn these strategies with the help of a therapist or with online guidance or books — both are equally effective ways of implementing CBT-I. Not into seeing a therapist? Check out Sleepio, a digital program that helps users learn about and implement CBT practices from the comfort of their own homes.
  • Establish a regular bedtime routine. Find activities that help you wind down before bed, and stick to the same sleep-wake schedule, even on weekends.
  • Use the bed appropriately. Beds should be reserved for sleep and sex — and nothing else. Bringing work into the bedroom is a sure-fire way to discourage sleep quality.
  • Choose the right mattress. Uncomfortable bedding has been linked to poorer sleep quality, while a comfortable mattress can up the chances of a satisfying snooze.
  • Don’t smoke. Need another reason to quit? Smokers commonly exhibit symptoms of insomnia — possibly because their bodies go into nicotine withdrawal during the night.
  • See a doctor. If you've tried everything and nothing’s worked, it might be time to consult a professional. A doctor can help rule out any sleep disorders and identify lifestyle factors or medications that might be getting in the way of a good night’s rest.
  • Exercise early in the day. Studies find moderate aerobic activity can improve insomniacs’ sleep quality. For best results, exercise at least three hours before bedtime so the body has sufficient time to wind down before hitting the sack.
  • Schedule “worry time” during the day. Spend 15 minutes addressing problems (journaling is a good way to start) so they don't sneak up when your head hits the pillow. If a particular event or stressor is keeping you up at night — and it has a clear end date — the problem may resolve itself naturally.
  • Limit caffeine. It’s tempting to reach for coffee when we’re tired after a poor night’s sleep, but drinking caffeine can make it harder for us to fall asleep at night, creating a vicious cycle. Can’t quit cold turkey? Try limiting caffeine intake to earlier in the day so it’s out of your system by bedtime.
  • Nap the right way. Just 10 to 20 minutes of napping during the day can help us feel rested (and improve our creativity and memory, to boot!). But try to avoid napping after 3:00 or 4:00pm, as this can make it harder to fall asleep at bedtime.
  • Get outside. Increasing natural light exposure during the day promotes healthy melatonin balance, which can help us get to sleep later in the day.
  • Eat for sleep. Eat foods high in magnesium, like halibut, almonds, cashews, and spinach, and foods high in vitamin B complex, like leafy green vegetables, nuts, and legumes. Some experts also recommend taking supplements of taurine, vitamin B6, and magnesium.
  • Try relaxation techniques. In one study, people who practiced meditation saw improvements in total sleep time and sleep quality. Other relaxation strategies — like yoga, deep breathing, and progressive relaxation — are also effective tools for promoting good sleep.
  • Avoid large meals late in the evening. Jumbo meals pre-bedtime have been linked to trouble falling asleep.
  • Dim the lights two hours before bed. According to one study, exposure to electrical lights between dusk and bedtime might negatively affect our chances at quality sleep. Assuming you don’t want to sit in the dark for hours, find the happy medium by dimming the lights as bedtime draws near. Also consider changing all light bulbs to “soft/warm” varieties with a color temperature less than 3,000 kelvins, all of which can reduce lights’ effects on our nervous systems.
  • Turn off the screens. The artificial (or “blue”) light emitted by screens can disrupt our bodies’ preparations for sleep by stimulating daytime hormones. Reduce exposure by turning off TVs, phones, and computers at least one hour before bedtime. Can’t give up the Daily Show? At least dim a screen’s brightness, either manually or with the help of automated programs.
  • Don’t drink alcohol right before bed. Booze might seem like an obvious choice for calming down pre-bedtime, but it can actually disrupt sleep cycles later in the night. You don’t have to give up the good stuff completely; just drink it with dinner (around 6 o’clock) and skip the nightcap.
  • Don’t use your brain before bed. Don’t work; watch stimulating TV shows, read complex material, or think too hard — about anything — before bedtime; working out the brain keeps the body awake.
  • Have sex or masturbate before bed. Hey, anything for a good night’s rest. Getting our “O” face on pre-bedtime can help us fall asleep.
  • Keep it (dark and) cool. A dark, cool bedroom environment helps promote restful sleep. Program the thermostat so the bedroom’s temperature is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (experiment to find what works best for you), and use heavy curtains, blackout shades, or an eye mask to block lights. Also be sure to charge cell phones and laptops outside the bedroom — even this tiny bit of light can be disrupt sleep. If you live in a studio or can’t get away from blue lights for any reason, consider making a (very small) investment in blue light blocking glasses.
  • Consider natural supplements. Valerian and melatonin are two of the most highly recommended supplements (though their efficacy is still under review).

Wish you could be sleeping right now? When it’s getting late and blissful sleep ain’t coming, don’t give up hope. Follow the strategies below and you just might drift off to dreamland.

  • Don’t try to sleep unless you're sleepy. Yes, it sucks when it’s 2:00am and you still don’t feel tired, despite knowing you need rest. But climbing into bed when you don’t feel ready for sleep is setting yourself up for failure. Instead, engage in relaxing activities (like gentle yoga and meditation or listening to soothing music) until you get the strong urge to snooze. If sleep hasn’t come within 20 minutes, get back out of bed and try relaxing activities again until you're sleepy enough to give it another go.
  • Minimize disturbing noises. If external noises are beyond your control (a busy street outside the window, a neighbor’s barking dog), cover them up with the sound of a bedside fan, a white noise machine, or other sounds.
  • Vent stresses. If designated worry time earlier in the day didn’t fully do the trick, spend some extra time writing. Loose-leaf paper works, but if you scrawl your sorrows in a journal or notebook, you can literally close the book on your worries (at least until morning).
  • Brew some chamomile tea. Studies find the humble herb can reduce anxieties, getting us into a better headspace for sleep.
  • Try a hot bath or shower. Stepping from warm water into that pre-cooled bedroom will cause body temperatures to drop slightly, which can trigger sleepy feelings by slowing down metabolic activity.
  • Sip some hot milk. Science doesn’t necessarily back the idea that milk facilitates snoozing, but conventional wisdom might be strong enough that our minds still believe moo milk lulls us to sleep.
  • Do some leg exercises. We know; we told you not to exercise before bed. But apparently some easy leg lifts, squats, or your leg exercise of choice can help divert blood flow to the legs and away from the brain. This can help quiet the mind, making it easier to slip into dreamland.
  • Seriously: Count some sheep. It might not work for everybody, but focusing on one thing can help the brain settle down, making sleep more possible. Not a fan of our wooly friends? Focusing on your breath (in, out, in, out) is also an effective way to chill out. Or bust out some of those relaxation techniques you practiced earlier in the evening — they're just as good of a resource in the wee hours.
  • Visualize yourself asleep. Imagine yourself drifting in a blissful slumber while practicing deep breathing and progressive. Starting at one end of the body and working up or down, clench and then release each section of muscles for instant all-over relaxation.
  •  
Accept insomnia for what it is. Judgments (“I should be asleep”), comparisons (“my BF/GF/roommate is sleeping; why can’t I?”), and catastrophic thinking (“If I don’t get eight hours’ sleep tonight, I’ll mess up that presentation tomorrow, lose my job, and die tired and alone”) don’t do us any good. Make the night easier by accepting it for what it is, letting go of judgments, and being gentle with yourself. The silver lining? You just might get to see a glorious sunrise.

About the Author...
Born and raised in the state of New York, R.M. Villoria began his writing career as a prolific songwriter. After two back-to-back tours as a Marine in Vietnam, Villoria spent the next few years owning and operating a myriad of businesses and in 1992 returned to writing, this time appeasing his appetite for suspense and horror fiction.
 
Years in the making, his ghostly tales touching on the underpinnings of quantum physics and the paranormal are now ready for the public. As his first published work, Villoria presents readers with Volume One of his series “Tales From the Mind Field.”
 
Villoria has a son and daughter and lives in Las Vegas with his Wife.

14 May 2015

What is the Transpersonal?



     The term transpersonal is generally used to refer to experiences, usually occurring during altered states of consciousness, that shift the focus of attention "beyond the boundaries of ordinary ego-consciousness" and in so doing expose the experient to realities that had hitherto remained hidden. 

This is the subject matter involved with my main character in "GOING HOME"  One of the stories you'll find in Volume One of my series "Tales from the Mind Field" now available on Amazon and on my website at: www.rmvcard.com 

In 1989, Grof & Grof wrote:

     "The word transpersonal refers to transcendence of the ordinary boundaries of personality and includes many experiences that have been called spiritual, mystical, religious, occult, magical or paranormal... In non-ordinary states of consciousness, these limitations [of everyday reality] do not seem to apply. When we enter the transpersonal arena, we can experience historically or geographically remote events as vividly as if they were happening here and now. We can participate in sequences that involve our ancestors, animal predecessors, or even people in other centuries and other cultures who have no ancestral relationship to us... But the content of transpersonal experiences is not limited to the world of things that exist in our everyday reality. It includes elements that western culture does not accept as objectively real: we can encounter deities, demons, spirit guides, inhabitants of other universes, or mythological figures... Thus, in the transpersonal state, we do not differentiate between the world of "consensus reality", or the conventional everyday world, and the mythological realm of archetypal forms." 

     Transpersonal experiences are, therefore, significant factors in the development of personal self-conception and broader cosmological perspective. They may take the form of religious, spiritual or paranormal experiences on the one hand; unity experiences, entity encounters, out-of-body and near-death experiences etc; or more subtle experiences associated with internal feelings, intuition and dreams on the other.

If you, or someone you know, has had a Transpersonal experience, tell us about it in the comments below.

       Going Home - Still falling, Emma reached for anything to grab hold of but her hand kept slipping off everything she passed. Her screams seemed silent, yet she knew she was screaming at the top of her lungs. Why couldn't anybody hear her? Why didn't anybody try to help? Emma’s eyes opened wide with a start. She’d been dreaming again, this time seemed so much more real than the last several times. Her earliest memories were only of this small quaint town here in Connecticut. The places in her dreams however were definitely not of this town. A truly psychological suspense story following one woman’s journey back to hell...
Read about Emma's experience in my book.



You can buy this book right now from my website

About the author...
Born and raised in the state of New York, R.M. Villoria began his writing career as a prolific songwriter. After two back-to-back tours as a Marine in Vietnam, Villoria spent the next few years owning and operating a myriad of businesses and in 1992 returned to writing, this time appeasing his appetite for suspense and horror fiction.
Years in the making, his ghostly tales touching on the underpinnings of quantum physics and the paranormal are now ready for the public. As his first published work, Villoria presents readers with Volume One of his series “Tales From the Mind Field.”  

Villoria has a son and daughter and lives in Las Vegas with his Wife.