#which was actually fine. it was really easy but still…. zzzzz

[e77y]

[razorblade180]

Two of a kind

[Oasis]

Neo:*walking* Adam! You around here? Pleased say yes and I didn’t come out here for nothing!? Adam!?

....

Neo:(Where could this man possibly be? Not like he can walk around anywhere he wants.) *knocking on door* A-

???:Can you stop screaming?

14yo Sienna: *opens door* This is a desert. You don’t have to talk so loud.

Neo:Oh hey, I remember you. Finally speaking full sentences again I see. And after all that work I spent teaching you how to sign.

Sienna:.....

Sienna:Who are you again?

Neo:Ummm Neo? N-E-O. I work with your dad and watched over you sometimes when you were small. Well, smaller.

Sienna:I’m almost your height.

Neo:Still tiny. Cannot believe you don’t remember me. Though, you were a bit in pieces back then. Things were bound to slip through the cracks.

Sienna:You....look familiar at least. I think. Adam definitely says your name a bunch.

Neo:Praising my work is he? *smiles*

Sienna:More like constant groaning about your dilly dallying? Whatever that means.

Neo:What!? I’m his best member and he complains about how I do things.

Sienna:I’m pretty sure he told me you’re number four. Five counting himself. Six counting Bla-

Neo:Okay! Okay! That’s enough jabs kiddo. Where is the guy anyways?

Sienna:Fishing with Jael. Mom is out getting side dishes for dinner. I actually managed to go to sleep for once until a voice started screaming...it was a nice hour while it lasted.

Neo:Hehehe, my bad. Well, can I come in and wait?

Sienna:.....

Neo:*pouts*...

Sienna:Isn’t that trick suppose to be the other way around?

Neo:When you’re cute it doesn’t matter.

Sienna:*folds ears and pouts* Please get off my porch.

Neo:.....

Sienna:......

Neo:Ugh, fine. I’ll just wait by the oasis. I want to give him my report and go home already. *walking away*

Sienna:You did a mission?

Neo:Yep.

Sienna:.....Was it cool? *wiggles ears*

Neo:I was undercover in an up and coming terroist orginization for a month. So yeah, pretty cool.

Sienna:Wow....how do you do that?

Neo:Do what?

Sienna:Be around dangerous people for so long?

Neo:That’s easy sweetie. I’m dangerous myself. I have been my whole life. Most people can’t tell though which makes it better. I’m just another pretty girl to most.

Sienna:I can tell. That you’re dangerous I mean. Also a bit unhinged.

Neo:Oh can you now? *looks at her*

Sienna:Yeah, it’s the eyes.

Neo:Different colors have you on edge?

Sienna:Not that. Your eyes...remind me of mine.

Neo:.......

Sienna:I’ve hurt people too, when I’m scared. Cornered like an animal. My heart starts to pound....

Neo:Then the only thing that matters is living pass that moment?

Sienna:Y...Yeah. Exactly. If it weren’t for Adam then even that might not have been possible.

Neo:.....You wanna know a secret? We aren’t quite the same. *walks back to her*

Sienna:How so?

Neo:You found the warmth of others far faster than I did. Not only that. *rubs Sienna’s face* I don’t think I was half as tough as you are when I was your age. Nowhere near as beautiful either. You’re quite the looker aren’t you? It’s a real talent to look so graceful while holding trauma.

Sienna:*red* I’m pretty?

Neo:Of course! Has that fuddy duddy parent of yours never told you?

Sienna:They say it, it’s just weird to hear someone else say it. Especially with rings under my eyes.

Neo:Pfft. Those aren’t anything. Wanna talk by the water while a wait for your pops?

Sienna:....We can wait inside, Neo.

Neo:*smiles* If that’s okay with you then sure.

[A couple hours later]

Adam:*walks in with Jael on his back* Sienna we’re back. Your sis caught you a bunch of trout. Right Jael?

8yo Jael:Zzzzz

Adam:*Smiles* That sounds about right.

Neo:Hey boss. *on the couch*

Adam:Oh hey N-

Sienna:*sleeping on top of her*Zzzzz

Neo:*rubbing her hair* Looks like you got two sleepy kids. Lucky you.

Adam:How long has she been asleep?

Neo:A few hours.

Adam:That’s surprising. She doesn’t doze off unless she’s exhausted or with me.

Neo:Jealous?

Adam:Thankful, she needs all the rest she can get. She remember you?

Neo:No, but I think this was a good reintroduction. This kid is really something else. It’s a miracle that she’s as put together as she is. You’ve done a good job keeping her alive.

Adam:Did she say that? I get to much credit. She survived all on her own. All I did was give her more options to go.

Neo:That’s more than what you and I got at her age. Maybe she’ll still find peace in life.

Adam:I wouldn’t be so sure. She’s very adamant about joining the organization. Says it calls out to her; she’s already training for boot camp.

Neo:Yeah? *looks down*......hmph, I can understand that. Well if she really goes through it then I bet she’ll be great.

Adam:I rather she find a different path. To be honest.

Neo:We both know that darkness like this doesn’t simply go away. It has to be navigated, not avoided.

Adam:Preaching to the choir. Everyone in this house has their own darkness, except for Jael. She...has a different trial that concerns me.

Neo:Her heart?

Adam:My name. Even know she’s starting to realize just how unique her situation is to be born into this household. Though I suppose I should count my blessings; what should’ve been five years with her is now eight and shows no sign of stopping. I’m glad that we’re even able to have the opportunity to deal with the problems of navigating her future. Though juggling both of their needs is a bit straining on Jacquelyn and I.

Neo:Well it takes a village. I’m always a call away. I already deal with the Arcs. A tiger cub is nothing.

Adam:....You’ve grown attached.

Neo:I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m just making sure my future subordinate has a nice life.

Adam:I hate to break it to you, she wants to work with me. Also Ilia will make sure Sienna gets the fundamentals down.

Neo:Don’t trust me?

Adam:Jacquelyn would murder me if you oversee her. But....if she does seek you out or does need help-

Neo:You have my word. I won’t be a pathway for her. Just a safety net. Let her find her footing, or are you concerned that she’ll like me more in the end?

Adam:You should fear the mom.

Neo:I’m no stranger to beating a maiden. Number four in chain of command. Not because skill or efficiency maybe, but nobody out ranks me in the areas that require my touch. Except for maybe you, but I don’t have to tell you that now do I? *pink eyes*

Adam:*smiles*No, I think these days you have me beat. Alright, I’ll be counting on you to keep an eye on her as well. Thanks.

Neo:Don’t mention it. After all, you helped get me a voice. That and...I like the look in her eyes.

Sienna:Zzzzz

[artificialqueens]

nobody knows where we might end up, chapter two (branjie) - holtzmanns

(read on ao3) | (tumblr)

“Then why,” Nina punctuates it with a click of her pen, “have you been so on edge since finding out that it was her?”

Brooke scoffs. “What are you talking about?” She’s not that obvious. She’s professional. Dr. Mateo doesn’t affect her that much.

“You practically ran away from the conversation when I introduced her to you-”

“I did not-”

“And now you’re sitting here like you’ve been personally wronged. If you were anyone else, I’d tell you to get the hell out of my office and respect my hiring decisions. But it’s you, and you’re my friend, and I care about you, so you need to start talking.”

AN: Hello, hello, chapter two! Some bonding outside of class in the past and a pissed off Brooke in the present. Thank you writ for being an amazing human and helping me talk through ideas, roasting my writing, and being a great beta.

(then)

“C’mon, B. You’ve barely come out with me at all since orientation week.” Brooke’s roommate flops down on her bed, fixing her with a quivering pout that’s dramatic enough to win an Academy Award. 

“I gotta study, Detox, it’s already week three and midterms start-”

“Fuck midterms.” Detox’s statement is punctuated by a hand in the air. “Uni’s not for studying-”

“Yes it is-”

“-Uni is not only for studying. You’re gonna regret it years from now if you spend it locked away in a dorm room preparing for midterms that are still weeks away.” Detox flips over onto her stomach. “Come study the different types of shitty mixed drinks that we can make instead.” 

Brooke bites her lip. She’s always had a plan - get into uni, study her ass off, get experience in the field, and ace the MCAT all so that she can be accepted into med school. A worthy four year plan. She’s vowed to herself not to get distracted, not to get pulled away from it. Not if she wants to get into med school on the first try. 

Detox sees the torment on her face and lets out a sigh. “It’s one night, B. It’s not even a party. Just some people on our floor gathering in 718 to get to know each other more and chill.” 

“Promise we won’t stay too long?” Maybe she can go for an hour or so, max. She can spare that much time. 

“Oh Jesus, yes fine, we won’t stay too long. We can come home for your nonexistent curfew so that we don’t make your mom who lives hundreds of miles away mad at you.” Detox extends a hand, tugs Brooke up into a standing position. 

“She lives in Etobicoke, actually, not too far from-”

“Irrelevant. Now c’mon, put on something a little sluttier than that high school marching band t-shirt you’re wearing. Not exactly gonna get yourself a man in that.” Detox starts rifling through her own clothes, pulling out a crop top and holding it out for Brooke. 

“Who’s to say I even want a man in the first place?” Not that she’s even come out to Detox just yet. Better to test the waters with her first. 

“Whatever. Get changed. It’ll be fun.” 

 It’s only kind of fun. 

Detox finds other people to talk to as soon as they step through the door, leaving Brooke to her own devices. She makes small talk with a girl who calls her ‘stunning’, which is flattering, really, before she realizes that the girl uses ‘stunning’ as an adjective for pretty much everything. 

“This cider? Stunning!” 

Case in point. 

Brooke nurses her own drink, noticing with a wrinkle of her nose that it’s emptying faster than she’s planned. She’s only brought one, not intending to even get tipsy - she still has another lecture to get through tonight if she wants to stay on top of her study schedule. 

She runs a hand through her hair when the girl leaves to grab a snack, wishing that she’d just stayed in her room. It’s hard. Having to socialize is hard. Uncomfortable. She almost misses home, misses her ballet friends and how easy things were when they had common ground to bond over. 

But she’s left dance behind with high school, not following the path of her friends who want a ballet career. Her body is tired, worn. Her mind has better uses. 

Maybe she should just go home and study. 

“Brooke!” 

Brooke’s head snaps up at the mention of her name, a voice yelling who is most definitely not Detox but-

“Vanessa?” 

She’s here. Grinning with a smile that lights up her face, her hair in a high bun with pieces falling in front of her face that she goes to tuck behind her ear. 

She’s adorable. 

Vanessa maneuvers between the people sitting on the floor to come sit beside her. She’s in another shirt-dress, one with Led Zeppelin’s logo on it. 

Brooke points to it. “Didn’t know you liked Zeppelin.”

“Who?” Vanessa looks down at her shirt. “Eh, I don’t. Stole it from my brother’s closet when I was last home.” 

Brooke can’t help the giggle that escapes her lips, sounding quite similar to the girls that sit outside the Athletic Centre and watch the guys’ football team practice while hoping to catch their attention.

Nauseating. She’s better than this. She has game. 

But then Vanessa nudges her, grabs her can of cider to look at it (‘I’ve never tried this one before’) and Brooke realizes from the way that her breath catches that no, she really doesn’t. 

“Try it, see if you like it.” The comment slips out before Brooke can stop herself.

Vanessa raises an eyebrow. “Yeah?” 

Her sip leaves a deep red lipstick print on the edge of the can, one that Brooke can’t help but stare at when Vanessa passes it back. 

“You’re right, that shit is good. On second thought, I want another sip.” Vanessa reaches across to grab her can. 

Brooke lifts it higher, out of Vanessa’s reach, can’t help but grin when Vanessa pouts up at her. “How about we trade?” 

Vanessa practically thrusts her own can in Brooke’s direction. “Take it, I’m tired of this hard lemonade. It’s not even good.” 

Vanessa takes another sip from Brooke’s drink, running a hand through her hair. Her leg is bouncing in place again, but somehow it’s less annoying than it is in class. “Question. What were you doing here alone, looking all sad and shit when I came in?” 

“I wasn’t sad. ” Brooke’s voice is defensive. She wasn’t. 

“Yeah you were.” Vanessa’s eyes are twinkling, making Brooke see that she’s just playing around. “Pouting and everything by yourself like a sad kitty.” 

 “You’re making me feel real cool.” Vanessa cracks up at Brooke’s wry statement, her laugh reverberating in the small room and it’s so cute that it makes Brooke crack a smile too. 

“Nah. I just…my roommate dragged me here. Wasn’t really in the mood today.” Brooke shrugs at her. 

“Are you ever?” Vanessa can’t keep a straight face before nudging Brooke. “Kidding, kidding. I’ve just never seen you at one of these floor hangouts before.”

Brooke can feel the blush rising on her face. So maybe she’s a bit of a hermit in her room. Who needs to hang out with others all of the time? But at the same time…Vanessa noticed.

“You were looking for me, huh?” It’s her turn to tease, and it feels great to turn the tables when Vanessa is the one flushing crimson. 

“No! Okay…maybe. It’s just kinda nice seeing you outside of class. Where we can actually talk and shit, not with Professor What’s His Nuts droning on and on and on.” 

Brooke can’t help but clap a hand over her mouth, looking around as if the man is going to actually materialize out of thin air or something. “Professor Who?”  

“I said what I said.” Vanessa takes another swig of Brooke’s drink. “I can never pronounce his actual name, it’s too damn long.” 

Brooke snorts. “And yet you can pronounce things like ‘ventricular tachycardia’ just fine in class.” 

Vanessa shrugs. “Priorities, bitch. I practice. Speaking of which, I’m fucking glad we moved onto cardio from neuro. Neuro was boring.”

“It is not.” Brooke has to stop her mouth from dropping open at Vanessa’s statement. “Neuro is so fun! Learning about how the brain sends messages and the different cranial nerves and-”

“Zzzzz.” Vanessa pretends to snore. “Already asleep.” 

Brooke gapes at her. “How can you hate neuro? Cardio is so confusing, with all of the different nodes and phases. I still haven’t fully gotten it, I need to go back and study it again before the midterm comes up.” 

“Is that why I barely see you around? Cause you’re studying all the damn time?” 

“No!” Brooke makes a face Vanessa gives her a pointed look. “Maybe?” 

“You need to loosen up a little.” Vanessa stands up then and faces her. Sticks a hand out. “Lemme show you how.”

“I don’t really want to drink that much tonight.” Her protest is cut off, however, when Vanessa winks at her and makes the words that are resting on the tip of her tongue disappear. 

“When did I say there was gonna be more alcohol? Come on.” 

Brooke relents, letting Vanessa pull her into a standing position and drag her to another corner of the room. The music is louder, people dancing and laughing and then so is Vanessa, singing along to lyrics that Brooke doesn’t know and grabbing her hands, trying to make her move too.

Vanessa giggles at the way Brooke is frozen in her spot, stiff despite the music. “C’mon, you. Why you looking like a baby giraffe trying to learn how to walk for the first time?” 

“I don’t dance. Not like this, anyway.” She’s a ballet dancer. She doesn’t know how to do this kind of dancing, one where she doesn’t have to drill the steps into her head a million times first. 

“Sure you do.” Vanessa’s smile is a bit too mischievous and oh , that’s why, because she puts her hands on Brooke’s hips. Brooke’s heart does approximately twenty-five flips, because does Vanessa even know what she’s doing to her?

“Try and sway a little.” Vanessa moves her hands, bringing Brooke’s hips with them. “There you go.”

“I look like one of those inflatable balloons outside of used car dealerships.” Brooke feels her heart glow in her chest when it makes Vanessa crack up. 

“Shut up, you don’t.” Vanessa says it with a smile that makes her eyes sparkle and hey, even though Brooke may be looking a bit stupid, does it even matter when she can make Vanessa’s face do that? 

Vanessa lifts her hands from her hips, the loss of contact tugging on Brooke’s chest more than it should. But then Vanessa grabs both of her hands, intertwines their fingers and jeez. Brooke feels like she’s had more alcohol than she actually has, because she feels so light and happy and Vanessa is singing along again, and hey, maybe dancing like this isn’t so hard. 

Brooke can’t keep the smile off of her face when she stumbles back down the hall to her room hours later. She’s a little sweaty and tired and definitely in need of a shower but her heart feels like it’s shimmying to its own rhythm, one curated by Vanessa and the way she had danced around her. 

Brooke tosses Detox’s crop top back onto her bed, her roommate still not back, probably not returning until the morning. 

Vanessa’s fun. Real fun outside of class, when they’re not taking turns asking and answering questions and annoying the fuck out of everyone else present in the lecture hall. 

Maybe falling a tiny bit behind on her study schedule is okay. She’ll just work extra hard tomorrow. 

She thinks of the way that Vanessa had held her hands, twirled her around while going on her tiptoes (‘Why are you so tall, what are you, a skyscraper?’). Perhaps she’ll need to alter her schedule to allow for such extracurricular activities, because she’s made up her mind. 

She absolutely needs to hang out with Vanessa outside of class again. 

(now)

Brooke exits out of the Word document open on her office computer with a frustrated growl. The words aren’t coming to her no matter how hard she fucking tries and it’s annoying, this never happens, shouldn’t happen because this research trial is her baby and she should be able to describe her findings in words. 

Except that the words seem to be gone. 

She rubs at her temples, trying to work away the tension headache that has started to blossom. The day has felt longer than usual. Her craniotomy had complications with bleeding that needed to be dealt with, making the surgery go for an hour longer than necessary. The patient that she had a consult with had to be intubated after a code blue. Now her research is just…not working. 

Brooke hasn’t felt this off-kilter in a while. Things just changed after she saw…her. 

Fucking Dr. Mateo. Throwing Brooke off of her rhythm. 

Brooke stands up, shutting off her office computer. She needs a break from her work, anyway. 

Her feet lead her to Nina’s office before she even realizes where she’s walking. Nina’s on the phone when Brooke lets herself in, holding up a hand until she hangs up. Brooke flops down on a chair, crossing her arms. 

Nina raises an eyebrow at her when she puts the phone down. “Hello to you, too.” 

Brooke leans forward in her chair. “You didn’t tell me that the new hire was Vanessa Mateo.” 

“You never asked.” Nina’s forehead wrinkles. “Wait, is there something professionally that I’m missing? Her references were absolutely gushing about her.”

Brooke pauses. “Well…no. I don’t know much about her as a surgeon.” 

“Then why,” Nina punctuates it with a click of her pen, “have you been so on edge since finding out that it was her?”

Brooke scoffs. “What are you talking about?” She’s not that obvious. She’s professional. Dr. Mateo doesn’t affect her that much. 

“You practically ran away from the conversation when I introduced her to you-”

“I did not-”

“And now you’re sitting here like you’ve been personally wronged. If you were anyone else, I’d tell you to get the hell out of my office and respect my hiring decisions. But it’s you, and you’re my friend, and I care about you, so you need to start talking.” Nina fixes her with a look. 

Brooke deflates in her seat. “It’s…it’s not work related. It doesn’t matter. I can work with her.”

So she doesn’t want to talk about it. Sue her. Why bring up a relationship that ended so many years ago? 

She can be professional. She can avoid Dr. Mateo, if necessary. They head completely different units, for crying out loud. Who’s to say that they’ll even run into each other at all?

Nina sighs. “Brooke-”

She’s up from her chair. “Doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about it.”

Brooke shouldn’t be a child about it, anyway. She can just stay away from her. 

“I gotta get back to work.” She’s at the door, ignoring Nina’s disapproving look.

“If you now think that I’m absolutely not going to get this out of you, you’re wrong.” Nina clicks her pen in her direction again. “We’re gonna talk about this sometime. As well as your penchance for avoidance.”

Brooke waves a hand. “Yeah, yeah. Love you too, West.” 

She’s out of the office before Nina can say anything else. 

 “That’s it, come on baby.” Brooke mutters the empty words into the ear of the…nurse? Radiation technician? Whoever she’s fucking on this bunk in the on call room. The woman’s moans sound fake, and would annoy Brooke if she couldn’t currently feel the way that she’s shuddering underneath her. 

Brooke extricates herself as soon as the woman comes, wiping her hand on her pants. It doesn’t matter. She’ll change into a different pair of scrubs before her next surgery, anyway. 

The woman is still lying on the bunk, dazed expression on her face as she giggles. “Wow, Dr. Hytes.” 

Brooke pulls her lab coat back on, letting out a noncommittal hum in response. She grabs the woman’s scrubs from the floor, tosses them to her. “Shouldn’t you be getting back to work, too?” 

“Uh, yeah. I will.” The woman’s still looking a bit out of it as she pulls her shirt back over her head. “Can we do that again sometime?” 

“Yeah, sure. Whatever.” Brooke leaves with that, shutting the door behind her. 

She’s used to letting off steam like this, pulling one of the women on the floor that fawn over her into the on call room for a little break. Though this time, it hasn’t been as stress relieving as it usually is. The tension in her shoulders is still there, the headache that has hovered for the last few days behind her eyes still present. 

Brooke lets out an annoyed huff as she passes the cardiovascular ICU because she knows exactly why she’s still felt so off, no matter how much she wants to pretend that she hasn’t. 

She hasn’t seen Dr. Mateo since she started working at the hospital at the beginning of the week, but reminders of the woman are everywhere. Avoidance hasn’t helped when the gossip on the various units is so loud, so carrying, everyone gushing about Dr. Mateo’s surgical techniques and daring nature and how fucking friendly she is. 

Brooke doesn’t care. She doesn’t. But why has Dr. Mateo felt the need to come here, of all places? 

She’s ruminating as she power-walks to the Stroke unit, intent on distracting herself with checking up on some of the patients that she’s operated on during the week. Her mind is running as she flips through the files in her hands as she walks, barely noticing the woman heading in her direction-

“Shit! Shit, sorry-”

The woman’s apology cuts off and it makes Brooke look up and oh. 

“Dr. Hytes.”

“Dr. Mateo.”

Of fucking course. 

Dr. Mateo’s in her scrubs now too, dark blue ones matching Brooke’s because she’s also an attending surgeon. Brooke clenches her jaw. Her luck, really. She doesn’t want to deal with her. Even if she still looks fucking good. 

Not that the fact is relevant whatsoever. Doesn’t matter in the least. She needs to go back to work. 

“Excuse me.” Brooke shoves past her, and if the files in her hands knock against Dr. Mateo’s shoulders it’s absolutely not her fault. Not at all. 

“Not even the end of my first week and you’re already pushing me out of the way. Don’t let me keep you waiting from whatever important shit you’ve clearly got going on.” Dr. Mateo’s tone is biting, and it makes Brooke’s eyes narrow. 

“More important than whatever it is that you’re doing here.” With that, she stalks down the hallway without looking back because she’s mature, real mature. 

She’s fuming when she reaches the Stroke unit, an emotion that is only exacerbated when she overhears nurses talking about “that new cardio surgeon, I heard she’s crazy good,” making her slam her files down on the nursing desk with more force than necessary. 

Clearly avoiding Vanessa isn’t going to be enough, not when she’s the talk of the hospital. Focusing on her work is going to be more difficult than she thought.

[sanguinesprout]

Therapy/Counselling Diary #9 (and some silly but blah but good bits)

Weeeeeelp. As usual this session was uhhhh... *blank blank* I literally blank loads while in the actual session and feel like I totally have to wing my responses every single time in a slight panic (probably cause I’m not used to getting up early and am lacking sleep, also because I’m just really slow in general hahaha ugh). I’m still dying of lack of sleep idk if I can write right now so imma write out some real quick notes to go off and help jog my memory later before I forget anymores. Phew, wracked my brains all I can, time to go laze around and zzzzz... Okay slept some and shopped some and slept some more, time to write! Just get the main things down hoo!

About last weeks attempts at helping at front of shop, I kinda just observed instead, at first kinda just sat and shrank down out of view and no one really said anything to me, though I’m sure they noticed me lol. I managed to make a short convo with one customer with some general small talk stuff like the weather, where you work and stuff (yay?!) and then totally blanked so hard and welp, awkward silence (not yay!). I’m glad I tried and even my dad was impressed because usually I try so hard to avoid being seen by any customers and just don’t talk much to anyone. Felt kinda good but I got scared a bit and didn’t try that much afterwards, boo.

On another day I stood around eating fruit and helping set up stuff on my mum’s phone and said hello and bye to some customers which felt much more sort of natural in a way. Like because I was already doing something and not just sitting waiting and doing absolutely nothing else but looking awks as hell and stuff, so the conversation (or greeting in this case) was just the secondary focus. But... maybe people felt less inclined to talk to me properly because they can see I’m slightly occupied, that’s kind of bad sigh... I mean I’m glad I tried more than once, though I know I could’ve tried much much harder but I guess that’s what this week is about *wails and flails*

The counsellor said that it’s fine that conversation fades out, it’s natural and the customer only spends so long in the shop waiting for their order and has to go anyways. Also the more you try, the more you’ll ask and get to know about the customer (especially regulars), the general small talk might become more personal and specific over time and your knowledge base of general conversational content will grow. You could even lighten up things with small playful jokes and compliments. Like with everything, I always forget you have to start somewhere, start out small, baby steps and the like.

When I told her some customers knew me, as they had seen me when I was little (yeah, wow, it was so nice being young and not so afraid of people then or afraid of being recognised I guess *cry*) but I felt awkward as I don’t know them, she said to note that they said it in a positive way and take it as a compliment that they actually remember you and to reply you could just say thank you or even joke it up a little. Wow, it’s easy to miss nice things when you’re all fogged up with worry. Most people don’t remember a lot from when they’re little anyways too so I shouldn’t feel bad about it. I usually just kind of do that little smiley laugh but the powers of awk are always by my side, my faithful sidekick that helps me do my ultimate awk situation special move um, yay. 

I gotta let myself know that it’s okay, not to overthink and such as always. I did alright, I did good and I should use this to motivate me to try even more. Easier said then done huff, as usual I feel time and opportunity is slipping away so quickly. She noted that we only have 2 sessions left (that makes 11 in total haha how strange, I guess the first one kind of didn’t count maybe) so I really need to get stuff done so that when I am done seeing her and am left to my own devices, I’ll actually know what to do and won’t just stop trying and fall into the same slump as before. 

When you try, not a moment is wasted because you are doing and you are learning, but if you don’t try then nothing is learned and then it’s wasteful. Oh! ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’ hah! As with all quotes I happen to remember, I hope I’m using it right lol. I’m gonna try commit it to memory some more along with the rest of the stuff I sometime think to motivate myself, my derpy mantras that I also often forget lolol.

I also talked about how I went out shopping even more lately, that I was getting even less conscious of others and the irrational thoughts in that kind of setting. Repeated doing of something it always makes it easier, ‘it begins to feel like second nature’ is the phrase she used. I still feel uncomfortable at times and worry a lot when out but it’s true, if you just go and get on with what you’re doing, your focus is on that and everything else fades into the background where it should be.

She noticed I had a bag of some stuff I wanted to return to a shop and she asked how I was going to go about it. I said I was unsure if I wanted to return it even though it was not right for me, because I felt I hassled the shop keeper a lot, and felt bad about it. But the thing is, the thing isn’t right for me so there is no point in me keeping it, the shopkeeper is fine with me returning it, ‘no obligations’ is even what he said (lol), they’re professional, their feelings wouldn’t be hurt, and that’s why I decided to return it. 

In more hypothetical-ness I kind of said that I would say something like ‘the thing just isn’t for me, maybe I’ll come back another time/look at something else’ or w/e or maybe she asked what I would do in that situation if they wanted to be more salesperson-y and she asked is that really what I wanted and I was like ‘tbh no, I don’t want to look at anymore of their stuff, I want to go elsewhere and look’ and she was telling me to ‘stick to my guns’ and ‘be adamant on your first choice’ kind of thing and she’s right, there’s no point in me lying because I feel bad about it, they have plenty of other customers too and probably lots of them return things, it’s no big deal. There was some talk about customer rights and watching and learning how they handle things being useful to my own retail skill pursuits too.

When I actually actually went and returned the stuff (it’s shoes btw and they were uncomfortable, I keep beating around the bush about specifics again why why why? .__. ugh) the shopkeeper was totally chill, he has been every time I went to the shop and the refund was done super quick, no hurt feelings (lol seriously I don’t even know why I think like this, but even my mum was saying it feels bad with all the hassle, but I’m glad I didn’t let her words sway my decision) and he was still super friendly and reassuring (’oh no no, it’s fine, don’t worry about it’ c:). Tbh I already knew everything was going to be okay, it’s my sucky mind as always (and it’s just that sometimes diff employees were there instead of him and they were much less friendly and helpful, I was glad they weren’t serving that day lol, I hope that doesn’t sound too mean ack ><)

She talked a little about how irrational thoughts are totally normal and that everyone has them, it’s just that different people handle them differently and some people can become trapped in them while others don’t let them have their way so easily or at all. Also she asked about how much progress I think I’ve made and I said something lame I forgot and she said that she thinks I’ve done great and where I am now and how I am now is much different to how I was when she first saw me. She praised me a little more and told me I undermine myself a lot. I do see it too, I have been trying even though at times I felt it didn’t go right or wasn’t enough, but I have learned things and I have changed somewhat. Understanding yourself and your thoughts, it definitely  helps getting past them and challenging them a little easier.

For next week she wants me to write down a recap of everything I’ve learned so far eek..! Writing down stuff irl is so hard for me, all the writing I’ve done irl so far feels really half assed and bleh because feelings and stuff and ahhhh... I need to get over it, just do it! I also have a sheet similar to the thoughts and emotions sheet but a with more detailed columns that I have to fill in (the columns are like: situation, feelings, thoughts, evidence supporting thoughts, evidence against, actual facts and you score how much you felt it was going to be and how much it actually turns out being). I have a chance to redo the small amount of last minute scrawl I did on last week’s one, I’m nervous gdi, maybe I should write this situation as the first thing... not really... or should I? >< I really need to get out of the habit of putting off and leaving things last minute @x@

Also another main main thing I need to do is to help out in the shop for reals this time, like physically doing stuff and getting much more involved with chatting. Imma dieeeee.... no no, I’ll be okay, I gotta do it! I mean, I can do it! The first few steps are always the hardest, just try your best, go for it, yolo! ^^” I hope I’ll have enough to talk about and write about next time, c’mon hoo!

In non therapy related stuff, I spent some time with my sis and her bf. Went to a big shopping centre semi-unplanned, unfortunately on a day where I was super ill (like gut cramping run to the toilet and die there for like half an hour ill) but I got past that and it was pretty good! I felt like a total burden, at times I felt self-conscious as usual, but nowhere near the amount I would have some while before or the amount I thought I would if I didn’t go. Ohh! Damn, maybe I should write this on that sheet lol this is a prime example of proving myself/my thoughts wrong. 

I felt kind of brave that day, going out when usually I would have avoided it, I mean I actually had a reason to, but I didn’t let it or a lot of my bad feelings get in the way and the experience was useful and nice and something I’d really been wanting. I saw some nice things and took photos of some nice things too, I even found some shoes that were comfy but didn’t buy them... but there’s always next time! I’m definitely going again! Shopping is fun! Taking photos is fun! (even though I missed a few opportunities, but next time imma get em!) ^^ If only I wasn’t poor... but that’s what jobs are for and that’s my goal! All the more reason to be motivated about it >:D Somehow this doesn’t sound to good, but uh, whatever works! xD

I also went to my sis’ house and the supermarket some as an unplanned evening trip and did a little crafty stuff. I’m still working on the same project since a while back but like with everything else I’m learning as I go, baby steps some more! ^^ I still have to go to the post office again, I kinda avoided going today but imma do it all on my own again tomorrow. I also emailed some sellers online and asked about some products I was interested in. Sounds lame but I was chickening out on doing so for a long time, it turned out fine, was my silly thoughts and anxieties acting up. Phoned to ask about some post related stuff too (I can’t remember if I wrote this in the last post lol). I was trying to find a way to email to avoid phoning but there was no such thing and I thought, well just stop messing around and just do itttt! It was fine, I mean I awked a lot but at least I got my answer! I did it yay! More examples of doing and disproving my own idiocy! XD

Hmm.. hmmm this post, is it finished? LOL. I only wrote very few notes, but I’m glad I did because it helped me write and recall stuff. I’m a little sad I didn’t use food emojis and a bullet pointy style like last time haha. Ahhh ack! a scary sound just came from the wall wtf wtf wtf?! My heart just leapt out ahhh ;_____; I think I’ll go hide now... x^x No no, need to go do some useful stuff! 

When I started this post I kept thinking of it as a chore and kind if wanted to skip out on it, but I did it yay! (Per usual lol) I collected up all that useful and motivational stuff and now I’m pumped! Man I’m so nauseous and I think my writing came out real ditsy again and feel like I wanna edit it to hell but at the same time I cba and want to do other stuff like artsy things that I’ve also been putting off like hell, I seriously have the energy and motivation of a rock most of the time. W/e there’s no need to fuss over the post, it’s fine (I hope lol) and it’s okay to have some down time when needed. There’s no time like the present! Time to go do stuff!

Have a noice evening! Go go! ^^

[perspectief1]

Best Sleep Aids for Insomnia

Best Sleep Aids for Insomnia was initially published to Perspectief

Do you have insomnia?

Chances are you’ve experienced insomnia symptoms more often than you realize. In fact, take a look at the following questions.

Do you sometimes find it difficult to fall asleep?

Do you sometimes find yourself waking up throughout the night?

Do you sometimes wake up earlier than you meant to, and then find that you can’t get back to sleep?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above, then you have experienced insomnia.

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that affects just about everyone at one point or another. Some people are lucky enough to only experience sleep problems once or twice a month, or even just a few times a year.

For others, trying to get a good night’s sleep is a constant, nightly struggle. In fact, it’s estimated that as many as 10% of adults suffer from severe insomnia.

Some insomnia sufferers seem to think their sleeping problems are just something they have to learn to live with. They might consider taking sleeping pills, but this is a step many are reluctant to take.

Luckily, there are plenty of remedies for insomnia, probably more than you ever imagined. And some of them are 100% natural.

Read on to find out how you can deal with your insomnia. You’ll also learn what you can do if your child has trouble getting a good night’s sleep.

Best Natural Sleep Aids

More and more, people are turning to natural remedies for common ailments. And insomnia is no exception.

If you’re looking for a natural solution for your sleeping problems, here are 5 good ones you can try.

Natural Sleep Aid #1. Relaxation Exercises

As strange as it might sound, part of the reason you can’t fall asleep might be that you haven’t learned to do it in the right way.

There are things you can do that will help you fall asleep faster. Unfortunately, these techniques don’t come naturally to everyone.

You might have heard one of the best ways to get a good night’s sleep is to do relaxation or yoga exercises before bedtime. Or maybe you’ve tried meditation as a way to cure your insomnia.

These techniques can work, no doubt about it. But using these techniques can be easier said than done, especially for a newbie without guidance.

That’s where a product like the Dodow Sleep Aid Device comes in.

The Dodow Sleep Aid Device by Dodow is a unique product. It’s basically a metronome with a light system that’s designed to help you relax and fall asleep faster. In fact, according to the manufacturers, if it usually takes you an hour to fall asleep, the Dodow will help you fall asleep in 25 minutes or less.

If you’ve tried some of the more common insomnia remedies and would like to try something new, the Dodow might be just what you’re looking for.

Natural Sleep Aid #2. Sleep Masks

One of the most common causes of insomnia is light. And it can be any kind of light. Light from a street lamp shining through your bedroom curtains. Light from the TV your partner can’t sleep without. Even a hallway light shining under your bedroom door.

Any light in your sleeping environment can make it take longer for you to fall asleep, or cause you to wake up in the middle of the night. Light can also prevent you from sleeping as deeply as you would in a room that was completely dark.

Unfortunately, you can’t always control the amount of light in your sleeping environment, especially if you live in an urban area or are traveling. But an easy way to block out light so you can get a good night’s sleep is by wearing a sleep mask.

Sleep masks are easy to use anywhere. All you have to do is put the mask on and you’re ready to get some ZZZZZs.

If you’re wearing a sleep mask, you’re partner can have the TV or a lamp on without the light disrupting your sleep. If you’re traveling on a plane, on a train, or in a car, a sleeping mask will block out any lights that might keep you awake. And if a car drive’s by your house in the middle of the night, you won’t be woken up by the headlights shining through your bedroom window. 

One sleep mask we really like is the Better Sleep 100% Mulberry Silk Sleeping Mask. This sleep mask is made of 100% Mulberry Silk, which many consider to be the highest quality silk on the market. And it’s not just the surface of the mask that’s made of this material. The filling is also Mulberry silk. Mulberry silk is hypoallergenic, and the fabric is so soft that it won’t irritate your skin. The Better Sleep Sleeping Mask also has an adjustable strap, so it can fit heads of any size.

Natural Sleep Aid #3. Noise Masking Headphones

Like light, sound can also keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. And, like light, it can be hard to control the amount of noise in your sleeping environment. If your bedroom faces a busy street, a car driving by at night could wake you up. Hearing other people move around your house could make it hard for you to fall asleep. And if your partner snores, you’ve probably experienced many sleepless nights.

An easy way to block out unwanted noises is to wear noise cancelling or noise masking headphones.

Different “sleep headphones” deal with noise in different ways. Some work by actually canceling sounds so that, as far as your ears are concerned, those sounds don’t exist. Some work by “plugging up” your ears, effectively blocking out unwanted sounds. And still others work by using soothing sounds (like nature sounds or ambient noise) to mask or cover up the more disruptive noises in your environment.

If you want a really good pair of noise masking headphones that were especially designed for sleeping, try the Bose Noise Masking Sleepbuds from Bose. 

Bose was a pioneer when it came to noise cancelling technology. But their more recent research showed that, when it came to getting a good night’s sleep, noise masking worked better than noise cancelling. And the Bose Noise Masking Sleepbuds were designed with that in mind.

The Bose sleepbuds use soothing engineered sounds to cover up (or mask) unwanted noises that might disrupt your sleep. The extra small headphones fit comfortably in your ear, and will stay in place while you sleep. And you can use the Bose Sleep app to adjust settings, and choose from a library of pre-loaded sounds.

Natural Sleep Aid #4. Essential Oils

Sometimes, just being able to relax can help you fall asleep faster. And there are plenty of essential oils that have been shown to help relax both the mind and the body. One of the most common essential oils used to promote sleep and relaxation is lavender.

Lavender can help you feel less stressed at any time, whether you’re trying to fall asleep, or trying to wind down after a busy day. And, like many essential oils, lavender is versatile. Not only can lavender help you to relax, it can also help to reduce inflammation.

There are many ways to use essential oils. But the easiest way to enjoy the full benefits of these fragrant compounds is by using an essential oil diffuser.

An essential oil diffuser diffuses an essential oil, releasing it into the air as a fine mist or vapor. As the essential oil fills the room, you’ll get to enjoy its lovely scent. And the scent will be stronger and last longer than if you used scented aromatherapy candles or incense.

The diffused essential oils will enter your body by being inhaled, or by being absorbed through your skin. And then they will work their magic.

If you suffer from insomnia, try putting an essential oil diffuser in your bedroom. About 15 to 30 minutes before you intend to go to bed, add the essential oil of your choice to your diffuser and then turn it on. By the time you turn in, the diffuser will have spread the essential oil throughout the room. And once you lay down, you might be surprised by how fast you fall asleep.

One of our favorite essential oil diffusers is the Better Sleep Essential Oil Diffuser with Bluetooth Speaker.Not only does it diffuse essential oils, it also acts as a humidifier, which those experiencing the unpleasant effects of dry air will appreciate.

This diffuser has a tank capacity of 300ml, a good size for a diffuser meant for home use. The generous tank capacity means the diffuser can run for hours before you’ll need to refill it.

The diffuser has an Auto Shut Off feature. When the water runs out, the device will shut off automatically, so you don’t have to worry about it overheating because it’s running on an empty tank.

One of this diffuser’s most unique features is its Bluetooth Speaker, which can easily establish a connection with any Bluetooth enabled device. So not only can you use the diffuser to diffuse essential oils, you can also use it to listen to your favorite music at the same time.

Natural Sleep Aid #5. A Good Mattress or Mattress Topper

Trying to sleep on a bad mattress can be a miserable experience. In fact, if your mattress is thin, hard, lumpy, or saggy, it’s probably been a while since you had a truly good night’s sleep. Instead, you might find yourself tossing and turning all night, trying in vain to find a comfortable position. Even if you manage to fall asleep, you probably won’t sleep all that deeply, especially if rolling over onto a particularly hard lump wakes you up.

The truth is that people who try to sleep on bad mattresses rarely feel well rested when they wake up in the morning.

If you think a bad mattress is the cause of your insomnia you have two options. You can get a brand new, more comfortable mattress. Or, you can get a comfortable mattress topper to put on top of your current mattress. Either could be a quick and easy way to instantly improve the quality of your sleep.

If you’d like a new mattress, there are some great ones on the market now days. One we like is the Avocado Green Mattress by Avocado Green. These all natural are made of 100% natural, organic certified cotton, latex rubber, and wool. Avocado Green also offers a vegan mattress that’s made without wool.

These luxurious mattresses are firm enough to give your body the support it needs, but plush enough to offer you a comfortable sleeping experience.

If you’re not quite ready to invest in a new mattress, maybe you’d like to try a mattress topper instead. One of our top picks is the Sleep Innovations Gel Memory Foam 4-inch Dual Layer Mattress Topper by Sleep Innovations. This pillow top mattress topper has two layers. First there’s a 2 inch layer of quilted fiber fill. And, secondly, there’s a 2 inch layer of memory foam. The result is a mattress topper that combines comfort with pressure relieving support, whether your sleep on your back, your side or your stomach.

Sleep Aids for Kids

        Adults aren’t the only ones who can have trouble getting a good night’s sleep. Children can suffer from insomnia too.

For the most part, children can benefit from the same natural insomnia remedies that can benefit adults, and vice versa. But there are some products that have been specially designed to be kid friendly.

So if your child has trouble getting to sleep, or they often wake up in the middle of the night, here are some remedies you can try.

1. Sleep Headphones for Kids

As with adults, sounds can keep a child awake at night. But sometimes it can be for different reasons.

Noise can keep a child from falling asleep, or wake them from a sound slumber. But noise can also trigger their curiosity…which can be enough to keep a kid awake. If they hear other people in the house moving around, they might want to get up and see what’s going on. Even if they don’t get out of bad, wondering about what’s causing the noises they hear can keep them from falling asleep.

If noise is keeping your child awake, for whatever reason, then sleep headphones might be the solution.

Sleep headphones are very similar to the noise masking headphones we mentioned above, but the construction is different. Rather than having earbuds that your child must place in their ear, most sleep headphones consist of a headband with speakers inside the band. The band is pulled down over the child’s ears, and sounds delivered through the speakers help to mask potentially disruptive noise.

Most sleep headphones designed for adults will also work for children. But the CozyPhones Kids Headphones by CozyPhones were designed specifically for children. These extremely comfortable sleep headphones have a soft, fleece headband. They also have volume limiting speakers, so the volume can’t accidentally be turned up high enough to damage little ears.

CozyPhones Kids Headphones are also available in kid friendly designs.

Sleep headphones for adults are usually available in solid colors, like black, dark blue or gray. But the CozyPhones Kids Headphones are colorful and designed to look like cute, cartoon animals.

If you’d like to try sleep headphones for yourself, CozyPhones makes a more sophisticated version of their sleep headphones for adults: CozyPhones Sleep Headphones with Travel Bag.

2. Essential Oils for Kids

Another good sleep aid for kids is essential oils.

Essential oils commonly used to promote sleep, like lavender, have been found safe to use around children.

And using an essential oil diffuser in a child’s bedroom can be.

If you have reservations about using an essential oil diffuser in your child’s bedroom, many of these devices are designed to be safe to use around children, even old ones. And you can always place the diffuser up high, out of your child’s reach.

There are essential oil diffusers made especially to appeal to children, like the ZAQ Sky Aroma Essential Oil Kids Diffuser by ZAQ. This isn’t just an essential oil diffuser. It also acts as a humidifier, ionizer, and night light. And it doesn’t get hot, so you don’t have to worry about your child hurting themselves if they touch the diffuser.

The diffuser is made of BPA free materials. And it has a design that will to match the decor of a kid’s bedroom.

3. Melatonin for Kids

Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally by your body when it starts to get dark. One of this hormone’s jobs is to make you start feeling sleepy at night. The more melatonin your body produces, the sleepier you will feel, and the faster you will fall asleep at night. And if your body isn’t producing enough melatonin for some reason, you can use melatonin supplements to make up for the deficiency.

It is considered safe for both children and adults to take melatonin supplements. However, before giving melatonin to your child, you might want to consult his or her doctor. The doctor can tell you whether or not it’s safe for your child to take melatonin, and in what dose.

There are actually children’s vitamins available that contain melatonin. One of them is Zarbee’s Naturals Children’s Sleep with Melatonin. These vitamins are available as chewable gummies with a pleasant, fruity flavor. The pleasant taste of these vitamins makes it more likely that your child will actually take them.

Recommended for children ages three and up, these supplements are safe, effective, and drug free. In fact, many pediatricians recommend Zarbee’s Naturals Children’s Sleep with Melatonin.

Melatonin as a Sleep Aid

You’ve probably heard of melatonin, and how it can help you fight insomnia so you can get a good night’s sleep.

But what exactly is melatonin?

Melatonin Basics

Melatonin is a natural hormone produce by your brain. As it begins to get dark outside, your brain increases its production of melatonin. As a result, you will start to feel sleep, which will help you fall asleep faster.

As morning approaches, and it starts to get light outside, melatonin production will begin to decrease. By the time its full daylight outside, you will feel more awake and alert.

As a rule, you’ll feel more awake and alert when you wake up at 7 am than you would if you woke up at 2 am, even if you sleep for the same length of time.

If you suffer from insomnia, you’ve probably been told to turn down the lights in your environment about an hour before you go to bed. That’s because bright lights can inhibit the amount of melatonin your brain produces. If you spend the hour or so before bed in a brightly lit room, it will take longer for you to fall asleep once you turn in. But if you spend the time before you go to bed in a dimly lit room, you will fall asleep faster.

Melatonin Supplements

You can buy melatonin supplements over the counter. Many people have started using these supplements to help them fall asleep at night. And some see them as a more natural alternative to taking sleeping pills. Studies have found that melatonin supplements are safe, and taking them doesn’t appear to have any serious risks.

While melatonin supplements can help anyone fall asleep faster, they seem to work best in specific situations.

If you work the night shift, and have to go to bed during daylight hours, you’ve probably experienced some sleep difficulties. Taking melatonin supplements before you go to bed might help you fall asleep faster. The supplements can also help you sleep more deeply. 

And if you do a lot of traveling which requires you to cross time zones, it can throw your sleep cycle out of whack. Melatonin can help you sleep better during your trip. In fact, it’s often recommended that you start taking melatonin supplements several days before your trip begins.

Melatonin and Insomnia

For some people who suffer from insomnia, there can be a hiccup in the production of melatonin.

In some cases, the brain doesn’t produce the typical amount of melatonin, if it produces melatonin at all. In other cases, melatonin production is delayed. In either case, the result is that you might not get drowsy as bedtime approaches, and it could take a while for you to drift off. And, if your melatonin levels fluctuate, you might find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, and being unable to get back to sleep.

Studies have found that taking melatonin supplements can help insomniacs fall asleep faster, although how much faster can vary from one person to the next.

There’s also some indication that melatonin supplements can help you stay asleep through the night.

Melatonin supplements are largely considered safe, even with long term use. However, many suggest talking to your doctor before taking melatonin supplements.

If you are already taking melatonin supplements, talk to your doctor if you experience any of the possible side effects, like headaches, dizziness, or daytime drowsiness.

Sleeping Pills

If you suffer from insomnia, chances are you’ve at least thought about trying sleeping pills to deal with your sleeping difficulties.

Sleeping pills fall into two very broad categories. In the first category are prescription sleeping pills that you can only get with a prescription from your doctor. In the second category are over the counter sleeping pills that you can buy without a prescription. You can usually find these sleep aids at any store that sells over the counter medications, like drug stores and grocery stores.

While the medications in both categories are meant to help improve your quality of sleep, there are actually a lot of differences between them.

Over the Counter Sleeping Pills

The thing about over the counter sleeping pills is that they are not meant to be taken long term. In fact, they are best used as a short term solution to temporary sleeping problems.

The good news is that OTC sleep aids aren’t habit forming, which is one of the downsides of some prescription sleep pills. However, there are some things you should consider before taking over the counter sleep aids.

One problem is that your body will quickly develop a tolerance for OTC sleeping pills that contain antihistamines, as most of them do. This means the pills might work fine at first, but the more you take them the less effective they will be.

And if you take an over the counter sleep aid at night, there’s a chance that you’ll spend the next day feeling run-down and groggy.

Over the counter sleeping pills can also interfere with any other medications your taking, be they OTC or prescription. For example, if you take medication for high blood pressure, you should not take an over the counter sleep aid without consulting your doctor first. 

Taking over the counter sleep aids can have many unpleasant side effects, including blurred vision, daytime drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, and constipation. OTC sleeping pills can also end up making your insomnia worse.

Pregnant and nursing women should avoid taking OTC sleeping pills, as should people over the age of 75. And if you suffer from any kind of medical condition, like asthma, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, liver disease or glaucoma, you should definitely ask your doctor before taking an over the counter sleep aid.

Even if you don’t take prescription medications or suffer from a medical condition like high blood pressure, you should not take an OTC sleep aid for more than two weeks. If you’re still experiencing insomnia after two weeks, stop taking the over the counter sleeping pills, and try to find some other solution.

Finally, if you’ve taken an OTC sleep aid, you shouldn’t drink alcohol. You also shouldn’t drive, or do anything else that requires you to be awake and alert.

Prescription Sleeping Pills

Prescription sleeping pills are often prescribed to patients suffering from frequent bouts of insomnia. However, like over the counter sleep aids, some believe prescription sleeping pills should only be used in the short term. The idea is that the sleeping pills will help you get the rest you need while you and your doctor search for a better, long term solution to your sleeping problems.

There are many downsides to taking prescription sleeping pills. One problem is that some of them can be addictive. Fortunately, there are many prescription sleep medications that carry a much lower risk of addiction.

You should never take prescription sleeping pills that weren’t prescribed by your doctor. When you’ve gone a week without sleep, it can be easy to give in to the temptation of accept someone else’s prescription sleep medication. However, when a doctor gives you a prescription for any medication, including sleeping pills, they take into account things like your weight and build, your existing medical conditions, and any other medications you might be taking. When you take someone else’s prescription medication, you have no idea how it will affect you. In fact, it could have a devastating effect on your health. No matter how tired you are, the promise of a good night’s sleep isn’t worth the risk.

The fact that a medication was prescribed to you by a doctor doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s safe. In fact, some sleeping pills have been known to cause sleep walking, severe allergic reactions, and other serious side effects.

There are other potential drawbacks. It can be extremely dangerous to take prescription sleeping pills either before or after you’ve consumed an alcoholic beverage. You also need to be sure never to take more than the prescribed dosage of a prescription sleep medication.

For some, prescription and over the counter sleeping pills can be a good, short term solution to their sleeping problems. But it’s best to see these medications as only a temporary fix.

The post Best Sleep Aids for Insomnia appeared first on The Snore Whisperer.

from The Snore Whisperer https://www.thesnorewhisperer.com/best-sleep-aids-for-insomnia/

from https://www.perspectief.org/best-sleep-aids-for-insomnia/

[dialcforchris-blog]

Another day, another 69 cents.

Just got home from work, it was a pretty nice and easy shift. I think with all the new hires a lot of the attention is being taken away from me, which i really like. My role at the store is changing a lot! I’m no longer the “new guy” where the managers are watching my every move and making me super anxious, and the new hires are going to me for advice and help. Its a new feeling for me but i like it. I feel like i pull some weight, like i’m being given some more freedom/ responsibility, i feel respected. 

Of course there are those who have been there longer than me and still see me as new but that’s fine, they’re not dicks about it. But i have to say we got a new captain and i freaking LOVE this guy! He’s everything i look for in a leader, he’s kind, stern, fair, responsible, “gets shit done” if you will. He’s only been here for a short amount of time but he’s already made such huge improvements to the store. He’s like the complete opposite of our previous captain, who was an ass in my opinion. All the old captain did was hide in the manager station, call people to register, come out of the managers station to kiss the asses of the customers he knew on a personal level, and flirt with the cute girls who work here. The new cap’n is always helping out, bagging for people, running register, and just being an overall great leader. Oh and he actually cares about the crew! the crew, the grunts, us. He’s on the manager’s asses which is great! he puts them to work, doesn’t try and pit them against us, playing the divide and conquer game. Like i said, he’s the opposite of the old captain. However i will always be indebted to the old captain because he did hire me, which set me on this new, much needed, path in my life but more on that later.

One last thing i would like to talk about is my attraction to some of my  coworkers. Like any job with members of the opposite sex (or same sex if that’s what you’re into), naturally your going to start to develop and attraction to them, whether it be physical, intellectual or both! I am getting much better at learning to distinguish between the two. For instance there are a handful of coworkers that i find physically attractive but not so much personality wise so i don’t even bother wasting my time. I see some other other guys making fools of themselves for these girls, fighting among themselves, ecs and i’m so glad that i’m not apart of that. Then there are the ones who are both physically and mentally attractive. They’re awesome but usually have boyfriends, however i find that they can make for good friends and have a lot to offer. They seem to appreciate being able to have a friendly conversation, without a guy flirting with them knowing that they are taken. Its nice to have some female friends again. I haven’t really had any in a long time and it feels good. These awesome individuals are so use to guys  trying to get them to cheat on their boyfriends that when you treat them like people and not as mere objects they really appreciate it.

Well that all for now. time for sleep zzzzz

10/15/17