By the time my lovely support worker arrived at nine in the morning I had been awake for twelve hours.
I cannot sleep at the moment - it’s broken dream filled sleep and snatched of time rather than a good eight hours. My mental health is not healthy, I cannot switch off my thoughts and worries. As I meditate I find I am thinking on a loop, round and round the thoughts go. When I am balanced, thoughts slip through my mind like an eel through pond weed but at the moment the pond weed is too dense.
In my artistic desperation I began work on a new piece of art, titled ‘Nexus’. It is a work in progress, to fill my mind with new thoughts - to keep it away from the darkest places.
Have a lovely day 😃
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Julymoon
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I'm sorry you feel anxious and not sleeping. Have you tried a sleeping app? I would recommend meditation but of course you're already doing that. Your artwork sounds interesting. Do you draw or paint? Ali 🙂
Hi, I won’t pay for Apps that cost more than a meal a day, at the moment and I think perhaps keeping busy for me is the best solution.
I like painting and also sculpture. I am at present working with Acrylics in all its forms and expressing myself in a more abstract way. I used to do seascapes but I am having a break from those.
Anyway, enough of me how are you? Do you have things that keep you sane? 🙏
No I dont pay for apps either. That's interesting. I love art and sculpture. Not sure I could do sculpture though. I've just got into doing watercolours. So very much a beginner but I'm having fun, enjoying it and making slow progress although it doesnt come that naturally to me.
I find I sleep better if I eat something an hour or so before bed. I read recently that it's been discovered that cheese can actually help us sleep, only a little bit though.
I find I never sleep well if I eat anything containing artificial additives. A well known gravy powder being one of them. I now make my own with rice flour, roasted red onions, juice from meat and the veg water.
Sleeping 8 hours really came into focus in the Victorian era and the start of the Industrial Revolution. It is unnatural from an evolutionary perspective to sleep 8 hours a night. I have insomnia so I don't beat myself up anymore trying to sleep when I can't. There are a few useful sleep apps worth looking at and advice on the NHS. Naturally people's body clock's where set to sleep in two shifts. You might have looked at this link already but I'll put it in just in case. xx nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-...
It has been a pleasant day, I have spent a bit of time in the garden, I do love the bright warm weather but the sun does get to me and I find I have to run to the shade and put myself in front of the fans blasting around the house. Crochet is a very nice hobby. I really think the crochet blankets look lovely. A couple of people have put picture up sometimes and the items look really colourful. xx
I either read from my ereader or listen to hypnotherapy recording but what ever works for you is good. I hope you have found your solution. take care, Patsy
Try listening to this by Louise Hay, it doesn’t matter if you keep falling asleep, it works. For me. Every time.
Hi Julymoon, Sorry you aren't sleeping and that you feel extra anxious. Dark thoughts are very destructive and sometimes meditation is too much. It's not right for all people in all circumstances. So I don't feel you should force that. Maybe don't fight not sleeping either. Perhaps find something you enjoy doing during wakeful hours, like your art. It doesn't make the actual anxiety go away, but it passes your time and can make you less fretful at not sleeping. 🙏
I have meditated every morning since the age of eight. My mother encouraged me to do so and I often find it gives me a good grounding for the day ahead.
Sleep on the other hand is filled with nightmares so I expect I mentally try not to do so on purpose. When I drift off naturally, in a relaxed state of self, I sleep well and wake up refreshed. I found that as I have got older I need less sleep and between four and six hours is quite enough. I like to listen to music if I am struggling.
Hi Julymoon, I did have a good day today thanks. Like everyone else I guess, lockdown is now seeming endless, but I'm hanging in there.
I too am a regular meditator and like you, have been for years because I'm a practising Buddhist. It really does help me and I sit through all sorts of frustrations and repetitive thoughts, and you'll know, as I do, how disciplined you need to be to sit regularly when thoughts start to overwhelm you. But for those moments in time when it just flows, it can bring incredible peace. Nightmares and bad dreams can be a real menace and can keep you from your rest, but I agree that in older age, sleep is generally elusive. Music can be really helpful, but I find I even need to pick that carefully as I age, as it can tend to make me quite emotional too. Oh well, as Bette Davis said: 'Old age is no place for sissies'.
Take care and stay well! 🌈🙏🌺
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Its ok not to be ok
Hello Everyone!!! Leaving for a Little While.
Morning walk 
What's anyone done today 
Photo: Walk around Brailes Hill