I developed a habit in 2017 of reading for pleasure for a minimum of 15 minutes but often 45 minutes every night right before sleep. That way I can plant thoughts in my mind that have nothing to do with stressful current events.
We felt empathy during the 9 11 attacks. The whole nation did we pulled together as one. Less stress more empathy towards our fellow man makes us sleep better.
“Stress” is a commonly used word, but what does it really mean and what do we know about the science? I published “Stress R Us” in 2018, all 623 pgs and 120,000 words divided into 51 “Topics” (aka chapters) and in a large print type. A PDF is available for free download at Stanford’s e-library for a simple title search on Google. No major medical science publisher would even consider publishing it. Stressful? Have a blessed day/evening!
I have some experience with the query #2 notion about not sleeping being “the” source of stress. About 20 years ago I averaged 3 to 5 hours of sleep each night. This was just after a divorce. I fretted BIG time about not getting enough sleep. Read a handful of books on the topic and really liked the one that said if none of the following 3 things is happening, stop fretting. 1. You are not tired during the day. 2. You wake before an alarm. 3. You don’t need to catch up on sleep on the weekend. Instant calm and…I started sleeping more each night. Now I average 7 hours.
The 9/11 stress reduction will be my next Google search. I wonder if it has something to do with Instant Perspective where one thinks my issues are nothing compared to this tragedy.
Thank you for queries promoting some good reflecting and thinking.
9/11 pulled us together as a nation. There was a sense of “one nation” and powerful support for our country. The nation implemented changes to prevent reoccurrence. Now we see fracture, lies, hate, racism, the development of a dictatorship, increasing wealth shift, housing and health crises, homeless and mental illness, deportation, the loss of democracy. That is horrific and causes great stress, sadness, helplessness, sleeplessness. Social media has fed much of the current crisis and elevation in stress, as well as sleep loss. It seems there is little each individual can do, but if we all push back against the current regime maybe we can sleep a little better…Hope and act. Vote.
Ironic that the lawless thuggery of ICE is actually a result of actions taken to ‘protect’ us after 9/11, not to mention invasion of privacy, collection of our private information, which Elon and Palantir are gathering & monetizing in its totality now, the trickle upwards of wealth to the billionaires pockets. The result of unchecked corruption while we naively believed government cared about protecting us. Trump is the symptom. The cause started decades ago.
We’ve been asleep so long. I fear a terrible price is coming, even worse than what we are seeing now.
In all seriousness, I have always been a great sleeper. It has always been my best escape. My Nana used to say she would check me at night to see if I was still breathing; I slept so deeply. I’ve always appreciated that especially before retirement when I had a stressful job. Helped keep me healthy.
The past 6 months or so have seen a marked change. According to my tracker I am waking 9,10, 13 times a night. I have literally awakened to the mental picture of Renee being shot in the face and other visions of current cruelty that I have to try to shove out of my escape space. This is new for me. Not the empathy or caring or even anger, but the inescapable presence of it. We are going to have PTSD as a nation.
So, so good…and I love the groaner.
I'll let the editor know.
I love groaners. I think empathy but also appreciation of family and friends around you. Like the holidays big time.
So much to think about—just not at bedtime. I’ll tell everyone I know not to sleep on this essay (groan).
Rumination is deadly and the tendency increases as we age.
This is a thought provoking article. The editor should leave the little mischievous joke right where it is. To me it seems signature Dickerson.;-)
I also wonder how much aging contributes to sleep problems. This aging is not for sissies!
I developed a habit in 2017 of reading for pleasure for a minimum of 15 minutes but often 45 minutes every night right before sleep. That way I can plant thoughts in my mind that have nothing to do with stressful current events.
I know I’m not the first to notice but Mr. Dickerson is the footnote master.
My stress is related directly to the White House, its occupants, and the hangers-on.
We felt empathy during the 9 11 attacks. The whole nation did we pulled together as one. Less stress more empathy towards our fellow man makes us sleep better.
I suspect that this is why meditation apps like Insight Timer, Calm and Headspace have become so popular.
“Stress” is a commonly used word, but what does it really mean and what do we know about the science? I published “Stress R Us” in 2018, all 623 pgs and 120,000 words divided into 51 “Topics” (aka chapters) and in a large print type. A PDF is available for free download at Stanford’s e-library for a simple title search on Google. No major medical science publisher would even consider publishing it. Stressful? Have a blessed day/evening!
I have some experience with the query #2 notion about not sleeping being “the” source of stress. About 20 years ago I averaged 3 to 5 hours of sleep each night. This was just after a divorce. I fretted BIG time about not getting enough sleep. Read a handful of books on the topic and really liked the one that said if none of the following 3 things is happening, stop fretting. 1. You are not tired during the day. 2. You wake before an alarm. 3. You don’t need to catch up on sleep on the weekend. Instant calm and…I started sleeping more each night. Now I average 7 hours.
The 9/11 stress reduction will be my next Google search. I wonder if it has something to do with Instant Perspective where one thinks my issues are nothing compared to this tragedy.
Thank you for queries promoting some good reflecting and thinking.
9/11 pulled us together as a nation. There was a sense of “one nation” and powerful support for our country. The nation implemented changes to prevent reoccurrence. Now we see fracture, lies, hate, racism, the development of a dictatorship, increasing wealth shift, housing and health crises, homeless and mental illness, deportation, the loss of democracy. That is horrific and causes great stress, sadness, helplessness, sleeplessness. Social media has fed much of the current crisis and elevation in stress, as well as sleep loss. It seems there is little each individual can do, but if we all push back against the current regime maybe we can sleep a little better…Hope and act. Vote.
Ironic that the lawless thuggery of ICE is actually a result of actions taken to ‘protect’ us after 9/11, not to mention invasion of privacy, collection of our private information, which Elon and Palantir are gathering & monetizing in its totality now, the trickle upwards of wealth to the billionaires pockets. The result of unchecked corruption while we naively believed government cared about protecting us. Trump is the symptom. The cause started decades ago.
We’ve been asleep so long. I fear a terrible price is coming, even worse than what we are seeing now.
In all seriousness, I have always been a great sleeper. It has always been my best escape. My Nana used to say she would check me at night to see if I was still breathing; I slept so deeply. I’ve always appreciated that especially before retirement when I had a stressful job. Helped keep me healthy.
The past 6 months or so have seen a marked change. According to my tracker I am waking 9,10, 13 times a night. I have literally awakened to the mental picture of Renee being shot in the face and other visions of current cruelty that I have to try to shove out of my escape space. This is new for me. Not the empathy or caring or even anger, but the inescapable presence of it. We are going to have PTSD as a nation.
Wait until they see the results after 2025.
Cap’n, we’re going to need a bigger chart.
Stressed out, can’t imagine why 🧐