Journalling...better than Ambein

[Nomes]

I have severe insomnia and have had for over 10yrs now. There are two things that have really helped me take a turn in my sleep pattern. One is journalling. My Doctor recommended it. Usually, at the end of my work day I take 20-30min to journal my day. Things that have been on my mind, a to-do list, and just all around venting. When he told me this I thought...this isn't going to help. After a few weeks I noticed I was sleeping better. I don't stress if I don't journal everyday but find I naturally want to at least a few times a week.

The second is Seroquel. This is actually a treatment for Bi-Polar disorder but they have found that a small dose of 25-50mg helps people with overactive brains like mine. I take it before bed and actually log a few hours of sleep at night which is a HUGE step for me.

Hopefully, this helps others a little. I have been through numerous sleep studies and a myriad of medications. This is what I have found works the best for me with little to no side-effects.

[Odyssey13 · Accepted solution]

@Nomes  Journals are good to have. I have a special pen when I write in mine.

Sounds like you've made some positive changes in your life. Keep on doing it!

[Nomes]

@Odyssey13, Thank you very much! I have a special journal and glass quill pen set for mine too. I love book

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@Odyssey13 wrote:

@Nomes  Journals are good to have. I have a special pen when I write in mine.

Sounds like you've made some positive changes in your life. Keep on doing it!

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s, pens, and stationary. Call me an old soul but I am one of the few people I know that still regulary write letters. 

[LadyWeasel]

Journaling helps me too. I use my iPad and add in drawings and photos and frequently feel calmer right away.

[fitfrias]

Why did they take the Journal feature away! I am very upset about this.  I used it to track many things including new medications and their effects on me.  It was a valuable tool I would use to show my doctor.  It actually even helped him diagnosis me correctly.  For 10 years they thought I had Fibromyagia.  With the assistance of the journal, which I had documented what my body was going through, he was able to diagnosis me correctly.  I was in the process of documenting how I was responding to new medication he was having me try.  Now all that information is lost!!

If others found this journal helpful please post as I was told by customer service they listen to our discussions and that would be the place for me to address this issue.

[SolangeE]

Hello @Nomes! It helps a lot to realize small things that you do automatic, or without giving it a good thought during a normal day, we are constantly making decisions that impact in the world in different ways that we don't even notice some times. Specially all the good things we have, and I'm not talking about the material stuff, we give for granted a lot of things, so as you write in your journal you get to feel that gratitude towards life. I think everyone should try to have one, it has helped me a lot too! 

Hey and have you checked some natural alternatives instead of Seroquel, you can check them out and maybe discuss with your doctor, seems a good option. 

It is a really good habbit, drawing and just putting in paper whatever is on your mind, specially if you are doing it outdoors looking at a landscape. 🙂 @LadyWeasel Something that has helped me a lot to calm down and feel better is drawing mandalas, check the psychological good effects that it brings.

Regarding the Journal feature please post the idea in the feature request board so that our web engineers can take it in consideration for future changes. 

Hope this helps and thanks for being part of the Family! 

[dia]

Journaling is good therapy whenever you are bothered by something. I love a good moleskine journal and a jet stream ink pen! I prefer old-fashion pen/paper instead of a keyboard.

[SolangeE]

Welcome beautiful! @dia  definitely agree with you. technology can be awesome if you use for the right purposes but if not it can actually make you loose a lot of time.

See you around.

[CallieM]

@dia @SolangeE I agree with both of you too! Technology sometimes gets the best of me at night, but I find that I sleep much better when I shut the laptop early and instead journal for half an hour before bed! Zzzzz....  (:

[SolangeE]

Hey, @CallieM, @dia! Yes electronics before going to be is definitely not a good idea. Check here why. 

And writing before bed is the best you can do, makes you be more conscious and thankful for what the day brought you. 

[Roessie]

I don't know about journaling before bed.  Reading novels breaks through the self-critical, problem-solving monologue that seems to occupy a large part of my brain during the day and often follows me into sleep. But, I WOULD LIKE A SLEEP JOURNAL FEATURE!  I was surprised to read that there used to be one.

Is the journal now included with the Premium subscription?  

[fitfrias]

Perhaps, some did not understand how I used the journaling feature.  I encourage you to read my post again. I never indicated that I posted in my journal in the evening, I would post in the morning AFTER exercise, to indicate pain levels while doing that as well.  I used it as a tool to manage my pain!  If you have ever experienced daily pain, you will try everything holistically possible to help yourself.  I never took the medication they gave me and thank goodness as I did not have what they diagnosed me with. I do not keep another type of journal, if I did, I agree that writing in a journal is better.  Again, I used it for more documental journaling.

I have yet to find a journal that I like to document my response to medications, exercise and other daily life events that effect my illness.  My new physician was very pleased that I kept the Fitbit journal as it provided him with usful information.

If there is anyone else who uses a journal for documenting purposes, and uses an electronic source, please post it and I would like to try it.  Thank you!

[MrsJohannah]

Great suggestion! My Doctor recommended turning off all eletronics an hour before having to turn in also - so put the LED smart phones down in bed. ha ha! It actually helps me to fall asleep faster too. Just an idea to help others.

[SolangeE]

Yes, @MrsJohannah! This is what I do as well. Thanks for sharing. 

[Jillzdiva]

I knew I had trouble sleeping .. But didn't know how few hours I was really sleeping until I started wearing my tracker. I take ambien on occasion but try not to take it. I've used melatonin and Passion flower ... Both help some ... But I still only average about 3 hrs 20 mins a night of actual sleep . 🙃💤

[JonahV]

I feel like this is great to know even if you're just having a restless night and can't sleep!

Thanks for this post!!! 🙂

[SolangeE]

Hello, @Jillzdiva, @JonahV! It is nice to see you around. I'm sorry to hear that you have trouble sleeping. A couple of months ago I had problems too, what I noticed was that I was not doing enough exercise so my mind was tired but not my body. So just make sure you exercise every day, at least for an hour. Writing before bed is also good to get those feelings that are spinning in your head, out. 

I hope you have a nice week! 

[Decadence]

I'm going to try coloring in an adult coloring book ~!!

[SolangeE]

Hey, it is nice to have you here! Thanks for stopping by, @Decadence. That is cool, I have mandala coloring book! It is so relaxing to paint and draw, sometimes even just improvising with whatever is on your mind also helps a lot. 🙂

[modelmalina]

I agree that for me at least Journalling helps with sleep. It relaxes me and calms my mind if I am stressed. A glass of warm milk helps me also.