Why Can't I Sleep?

Do you know someone who has trouble sleeping?  I am one of those people! I have bouts of insomnia that sometimes lasts for weeks!  I've  heard that as you get older, people sleep less.  I don't mind sleeping less, but falling asleep is the problem. If I fall asleep within the first 15 minutes then I will sleep for a few hours.  If not then I lay awake trying to meditate and quiet my very fertile mind rehashing the day, yesterday, last week, last year or even 10 years ago.  Sounds ridiculous doesn't it?  I have tried multiple therapies and in future posts I will talk about some of them.

I never realized how important sleep is until I began to have some trouble.  Not sleeping well affects my whole life!  I am retired so I do have the flexibility to stay in bed awhile in the morning, but usually I just get up and try to go about my routine.  I have some coffee and don't feel too bad until about 11:00 and then I feel like I have to drag myself around the rest of the day.  I do try to take a nap and sometimes I fall asleep and sometimes I don't.  I've tried just ignoring the fact that I'm sleep deprived, but that will work only so long during my chore filled day.  I do have a busy life and a part time job and if I could count on 8 hours of sleep I could add on other fun things to my day!