PLEASE NOTE: If you suffer with insomnia or any form of sleep disorders – please, Consult with your Medical Practitioner or Health Professional.  What works for one person may not work for another.  I have shared my findings as what worked for me personally, these are my observations only.  I take no responsibility in what others do with my writings.  My findings are based on intensive personal research.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Mild to extreme insomnia is regularly experienced by empaths.  The high degree of sensitivity of empaths to others’ emotions, thoughts, and electromagnetic fields in general, as well as their own thought processes, can leave them unable to rest comfortably and fall asleep.   The physical body requires sleep to restore itself.  Without it the body tires, aches and desperately seeks an energetic re-fuelling.

Often empaths toss and turn from the moment they lie down and continue for hours on end into the night.  Sleep deprivation is a fitful act that can bring an empath to tears through lack of much required renewal.  In the act of sleeping we are replenishing our vitality through the sleeping and dream states.  The less sleep, the more broken sleep habits, the less replenished we feel upon awakening.  It is important to consult with your Health Professional with any sleeping concerns and also to ensure there are no other underlying problems.

SO WHAT IS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THIS SLEEP DEPRIVATION?

An empath may be subjected to a barrage of stimuli during both day and night and the mind attempts to process the excess information along with everyday events.   An empath’s mind can play over and over the day’s activities, emotional interactions, conversations, TV programs, work commitments, studies, anything and everything regardless if the thoughts are trivial and/or of the utmost importance. The physical body is in a state of exhaustion and yet the mind is actively pursuing an Olympic performance–night after night, to the point where insomnia is now accepted, though reluctantly, as part of one’s life.

Thinking can be demanding and draining, for this is not simply thoughts filling the mind.  The thoughts are backed up with energy from emotions and together they are pushing and pulling on the entire mind body spirit.  The need to still one’s mind and to bring the thoughts into the ‘”quiet” becomes essential.  The daily practice of meditation and affirmations can help encourage our ability to sleep on command.

In addition, our circadian timing (natural body rhythms) and/or our melatonin (an important hormone) levels that help regulate our sleep/wake cycle are affected by electromagnetic fields.   While it has not been proven, those extremely sensitive to electromagnetic fields may find that this is also a contributor to a disturbance in their sleep pattern.

HOW DOES ONE STILL THE MIND?

AFFIRMATIONS & MEDITATION

One method to help induce sleep is to use Positive Affirmations and Meditation.   There are numerous kinds of meditation and it may take some time and effort to find the one most suitable.  Many empaths have difficulty meditating and may find that focusing on a plant or object helpful.  In this case, when thoughts arise, bring your focus back over and over to that plant or object as a calming practice.  While some believe Affirmations and Meditation are best used just prior to sleeping; others find that the cumulative effect of meditating at any time daily will help quiet the mind.

Meditation teaches one to still the mind, to let the flow of thoughts bring one into a state of calm centeredness and peacefulness without thoughts and emotions being dominant.

Meditation is a dedicated practice best used daily.  The more often one meditates the more natural and effortless it becomes.  The results from meditation are profound and plentiful.  If one is stressed, over-tired, anxious, weighted by constant thoughts and/or emotion, adopting meditation can produce significant changes and self-empowerment.

Being in control and focused with one’s thoughts, quieting the mind, will help improve a regular sleep pattern as well as result in a replenished physical sense of well being.  Adopting and applying the technique of quietening the mind can also help in busy and/or stressful situations.

Your local paper will offer classes in varying meditation/energy practices: Yoga, Tai chi, Chi Gong, Vipassna, Transcendental Meditation, among others.   For those who need discipline in meditating, joining a group is preferable.  If you have strong self-discipline, purchasing meditation audios from the local health store and/or creating your own personal “sleep meditation” may be options.

OTHER HELPFUL HINTS

• It may be helpful to refrain from being especially active prior to sleep, which includes not going straight to bed after watching TV.
• Limiting caffeine and sugar intake prior to sleep, these substances can have adverse affects & keep some people awake.  Avoid drinking fluids immediately prior to sleep, this may disrupt ones sleeping pattern by awakening during the night to use the bathroom.
• Due to the effects of electromagnetic fields, it may be preferable to not sleep with a computer and/or television in one’s bedroom.  Not only do these appliances have harmful electronic magnetic fields (EMF), but they also convince the conscious mind that your room is a place to stay awake, rather than to sleep.  Removing these from the bedroom is the best option.
• Additionally, there has been research that indicates that sleeping under an electric blanket or with your head near an electric alarm clock subjects you to electromagnetic fields.  Battery operated alarm clocks, or the old fashioned wind up alarm clocks have less EMF (Electronic Magnetic Field) output and are more preferable.
• Moving the bed away from the wall with the main power socket, this often has a multitude of plugs running of it.  Check that the wall immediately behind your bed does not have a main power socket also.
• Steel and/or metal headboards are also known to have adverse affects for people with sleep disorders.  As an empath, you may be sensitive to these objects.
• Reading a book while lying in bed can be very relaxing for the mind and body.
• Listen to meditative and/or relaxation music with no lyrics as music with lyrics can trigger the conscious mind into thinking.

Copyright © 2002 Christel Broederlow