Night Work

I can’t recall the last time I slept through the night, and I don’t have small children! Even prescription drugs (not Michael Jackson strength—yet) don’t help. Three bouts of cancer, a bone marrow transplant, an auto accident and seven surgeries have recalibrated my circadian rhythms.

I didn’t choose these calamities but I get to choose how I respond. Here are three things I do:

Talk to myself – Most days it’s hard to have a decent internal dialogue. Too many interruptions; too much background noise. Volleying an idea between hemispheres is harder than sustaining a rally against Rafael Nadal. But in the dark I can leisurely bounce it off the wall like Steve McQueen in The Great Escape until I catch something I can use.

Listen for God – I say listen for God, not listen to God, because I haven’t heard another voice in the nocturnal silence. I have thoughts I assign to God or assume he’s prompted, but it’s not a two-way conversation. Still, I listen—and I remind God I’m listening—because I believe he speaks and I’m hopeful he will do so to me one of these nights.

Pilot my dreams –When I sleep, my dreams are on autopilot. If I’m semi-awake, I can quietly slip a hand onto the controls. In this ethereal landscape I can ride the thermals like a glider. The currents rule the air but I can make some tweaks to better enjoy the scenery.

Insomnia advice, and this is important: do something about your night musings the next day. Write down the insight, act on the idea, answer that email, call the creditor, do lunch, clean up your in-box, garage, hard drive, basement or desk, back off at work, speak up at church, get with the person who needs to hear you say “I’m sorry” or “I forgive you.”

Make the most of these golden hours; they are a precious if sometimes unwanted gift.

Pineal Gland

Pineal Ggland

The pineal gland is a tiny part of the brain that plays a big part in sleep and other natural cycles, mostly through the production and regulation of melatonin.

The precursor to melatonin is serotonin, a neurotransmitter that itself is derived from the amino acid tryptophan. Within the pineal gland, serotonin is acetylated and then methylated to yield melatonin.

Melatonin Production

Melatonin has important effects in integrating photoperiod and affecting circadian rhythms. Consequently, it has been reported to have significant effects on reproduction, sleep-wake cycles and other phenomena showing circadian rhythm.

As we age the pineal gland calcifies (some believe due to fluoride buildup) and melatonin production declines. External factors also play a role:

Environmental stresses affect pineal function, impacting overall body alertness, temperature levels, and hormone operation. Stresses that affect pineal function include unusual light and dark rhythms, radiation, magnetic fields, nutritional imbalances, temperature swings, high altitude, and overall daily stress patterns.

The flow of time takes its toll on the body but we can do some things to minimize the erosion:

• Eliminate as many of the above stressors you can from life.
• Take a melatonin supplement. 1-3 mg is plenty.
• Invest in a great bed and pillow. You spend 20 times more hours in bed than in your car; how much have you spent on each?