Insomnia and Middle of the Night Boredom
Fun Things To Do On the Internet When You Can’t Sleep
While experts offer a variety of opinions on the ultimate cure for insomnia, they do agree on a number of relaxing strategies to help you obtain the elusive deep sleep.
Exercising during the day, a warm bath before bed, or even relaxation CDs and reading are sure to help you unwind at the end of the day.
But for those who still wake up in the dead of the night, with no hope of every falling back asleep, it is best to just get up and do something quiet and relaxing. And what’s more relaxing than Googling everything under the sun? Or moon...
A Diagnosis of Insomnia
Insomnia is a symptom, not a stand-alone diagnosis or a disease. It is medically defined as a difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep and is generally classified based on the duration of the problem.
- Transient insomnia - Symptoms lasting less than one week
- Short-term insomnia - Symptoms between one to three weeks
- Chronic insomnia - Symptoms lasting longer than three weeks
According to the Mayo Clinic website, waking up in the middle of the night is called sleep maintenance insomnia; also known as middle-of-the-night (or MOTN) insomnia.
Famous Insomniacs
There are a number of famous writers, scientists, artists and political leaders who have suffered from insomnia. Some of the most brilliant people in history suffered from sleep deprivation.
So, when suffering from yet another night of sleeplessness, take a look at the many websites dedicated to famous insomniacs, which include the likes of Vincent Van Gogh, Margaret Thatcher, Marilyn Monroe, Winston Churchill, Robert Burns, Thomas Edison, Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare.
And for the quote lover, ThinkExist.com could quite possibly house the largest collection of insomnia quotes, including this quotation from Madonna: "I'm anal retentive. I'm a workaholic. I have insomnia. And I'm a control freak. That's why I'm not married. Who could stand me?"
Insomnia Fun Facts
Insomnia sufferers may find the following facts about sleeplessness interesting.
- Some people will develop insomnia from something as minor as changes in the weather.
- Contrary to popular belief, drinking alcohol before bed is not a sure way to maintain a deep sleep. Both drinking and smoking perpetuate insomnia.
- Common symptoms of sleep deprivation include hallucinations, short-term memory loss, paranoia and delusions.
- On a survival level, sleep is more important than food. Twenty days or less of sleep deprivation can result in death, while people have lived for months without eating.
Since Googling requires very little physical effort, it is the perfect late night activity for the sleep deprived. But if you find yourself tiring of the constant mouse clicking and looking for other forms of excitement, check out Night Writer, a magazine dedicated to life in the after hours.
Insomniac at Computer
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