Shag Town

For fans of Roots, Rock, Reggae worldwide

Its been more than a week since I've written anything longer than 140 characters, and I blame my insomnia.

Since I was a kid really, my parents have always struggled getting me to stay asleep at night. At first, we thought it was just a phase, because even I wondered why I could suddenly stay up all night and not be sleepy anymore.

A quick trip to the doctor, and we all had our answer: I was an insomniac. Medically, I am the equivalent of a 5 year old on pixie sticks. I can go hours without sleep and not get tired. I'm as energetic at 9am as I am at 2am, and sometimes there's no break in between! Days and weeks will go by before I get a descent night's sleep, and that's often the cause of when I get sick! Insomnia is my worst enemy most days

Insomnia has also become my only friend and refuge from the world too.

I can not tell a lie here, its truth incarnate when I say that I have entertainment choices that most folks groan and moan about. I get picked on and made fun of every time its time to watch a movie or show and I get to pick. Women have left me over my movie and TV habits, and some have left me over the content of books I read.

Insomnia became my refuge then. At night, when its late and no one is awake, I can be myself. I can watch all the movies and shows I like without being given grief through the whole thing. I can enjoy my British shows, bad old movies, and books about computers in space. I can watch things in their native language with the subtitles off so I can just enjoy the footage. I can learn about history and how sheep herders would be the precedent for modern computing and not be harassed cause its boring. I can read headlines from places far, far away. Usually, I can't get through five minutes of something without "I can't believe you like that junk..." being hurled at me between heavy sighs and long looks of hatred. Only through my insomnia, have I ever found peace.

Its not a healthy peace. Lack of sleep leads to all kinds of nightmare health issues I can't even begin to list. Let's just say that a lot of mental processes need your brain to shut off from time to time to work properly. All I get told from friends is "See a doctor" but in reality, a doctor can't help. I hate pills, and that's all they offer me is pills. Sleep studies and all that are a waste of time too, because they involve sleeping someone unfamiliar and aren't as accurate as they should be.

Believe it or not, the one thing I wish I could change is... my friends' attitude and opinion on it all.

Some of you might read this and think "I've said that to Shaggy...you know, about his shows and movies" and YES,I'm talking to you when I say this:

"I'm perfectly happy the way I am with the things I do. I'm sorry you didn't approve, but that's why I no longer talk to you."

Dealing with insomnia, and its closely related cousin Depression (the two go hand in hand actually, don't sleep = depression) I've learned a thing or two. One thing is, the less on your mind at night, the more easier it is to relax.
The second thing? Never waste your time explaining yourself to others... you can lose a lot of sleep over it.

I am, who I am. And that's all that I am.

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