i've written about insomnia before. it's such a strange malady, and one from which i suffer pretty regularly
i've written about insomnia before. it's such a strange malady, and one from which i suffer pretty regularly, but only when i do stupid things like fly from california to switzerland.
it involves breaking my agrarian bodyclock. i'm convinced that my bodyclock wanted me to be a farmer. simple, up with the chickens, to sleep with the sun. better than up with the sun and sleeping with chickens, i'm assuming.
insomnia is so odd, as it's so self-destructive, but yet solely the product of the self. it's only the self. the self at war with itself. the brain deciding it somehow knows best, even though it's crippled by delusion. the delusion that somehow being awake in a comfortable bed in the middle of the night is better than being asleep in aforementioned comfy bed in the middle of the night. the brain says, in it's reptilian core, 'oh, you are trying to trick me, see, you're telling me it's time for sleep but i know better, i'm the responsible one, so i'll keep us awake to make sure we're not eaten by bears or giant sharks.' you try to reason with your brain, saying, 'but brain, look, we're in a hotel room, it's 2009, you are being given a prime opportunity to sleep, why are you keeping us awake? and, for the record, it's been awhile since anyone has been eaten by a bear or a giant shark while staying in a hotel in paris.' but the brain, in its atavistic intransigence, thinks it knows better. the higher learning centers (the nouveau riche johnny-come-lately yuppies of brain architecture) take a back seat to the lizard brain, the limbic brain, the amygdala or whichever tiny peach-pit sized part of the brain decides that sleep is optional.
and then the quasi-hallucinations start to kick in (usually when you've had less than an hours sleep in a 48 hour period, and then preceded by another 48 hour period with 3 hours of sleep). the floor starts moving on its own. people's heads look larger than they actually are. lights move of their own accord. and the eyelids, or the inside of the eyelids, take on the consistency of a dogs tongue. a sandpaper dog, made out of coconut husks. insomnia is a red demon, like anchovies with teeth, filled with revenge.
the idiot pushes his stupid self to the breaking point and is then surprised when things break. the parents eat sour grapes and the childrens teeth are set on edge. assuming the insomniac is also the same person suffering from insomnia. that could only possibly make sense if you, too, haven't slept for a long time. and with the insomnia comes the wide eyed panic. the 'i'm never going to sleep again' panic. the 'this is going to kill me' panic. but it's an unreasonable panic(s), as insomnia is invariably followed by sleep. at some point. when the brain stem decides that it's finally ready to give in. when the bars are removed from the windows and the sleep gods come and whack you on the head with angelic ball peen hammers, resulting in perfect and god given cold sleep. here are some pictures. one of an empty venue and one of a street in paris as seen from a car.
and a word of warning, never offer to shoot an insomniac in the head, as there's a very good chance they'll happily accept your offer in order to finally stop being awake.
moby
Insomnia is defined as
Insomnia is defined as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both, despite adequate opportunity and time to sleep, leading to impaired daytime functioning. Insomnia may be due to poor quality or quantity of sleep.
Document imaging services
I was so relieved upon going
I was so relieved upon going through customs that I didn't have those conspicuous herbs handy. Granted, they said it was a random bag search.Matchmaking Service
Cal discoveries look amazing
Cal discoveries look amazing and remind me somewhat of Venice, beautiful. I shall check out your travel page.strategy games
insomnie..
telle est la question !!!!!!
Je vous rassure vous pas seul ...
Comme je vous suis, anti prise de médicaments ou Quelque autre subtance de grand mère .. je la gere Comme Je peux par période de ma vie 3h de sommeil Qu'elle bonheur ... Ainsi c'est
Vit notre cerveau!!
Paix a vous
M. paix Moby
PEG.
I was so relieved upon going
I was so relieved upon going through customs that I didn't have those conspicuous herbs handy. Granted, they said it was a random bag search.
Psychology degree | Online Nursing degree
is it the reason? i don't
is it the reason? i don't know when this show was recorded but if you was in paris these days.
Online health science degree | Online Natural science degree | Administration Degree
I remember one night around
I remember one night around 2am listening to 'The Sky is Broken' and wondering if you'd felt the way I did when you wrote it. (This was the night after I got Wait for Me so I was on a bit of a Moby bender...)
Eventually I climbed out of bed, found some paper and scribbled out a poem, which I later named 'Play', insomnia and when it was finally finished I went to sleep. It wasn't great, but it drained my thoughts onto paper so they'd let me be.
Catnip
This may sound silly, but apparently catnip works as a sedative when consumed as tea. My friend Bob is a hardcore insomniac and I bought some for his cats the last time I was in the UK. I think this was a mixture of herbs including Valerian(a known sedative), which come to think of it, is probably what did the trick. Long story short, his one cat ignored the stuff, promting Bob to boil it as tea(like one does). He passed out on the couch just as his other cat meandered in and started rolling about on the rug like a crazed pin-up.
This particular brand was sold in dime bags at the pet store. Mental note: Don't travel with the stuff in your hand luggage! I was so relieved upon going through customs that I didn't have those conspicuous herbs handy. Granted, they said it was a random bag search, but they only seemed to be stopping me, with my flared, tailored suit and yarmulke disguise(long story...)and everyone with a turban. Anyway, I hope this helps. I guess the moral is to try some Valerian for your insomnia and to try regular catnip because it sounds like something one of the kids from South Park would do.
insomnia remedies
Hi Moby,
Did you try L-Ornithine? It is an amino acid that can be taken at quite high doses that induces sleep. I think that is my best tip to you... I also tried using vitamin b3, 100 mg or so. It will make you feel warm, flush your skin and relax your body. It doesnt make anyone pretty (for a moment) because of the flushing, but it also cleanses out toxins from smoke through your skin, especially if in a sauna or hot bath. Firefighters use it to detox the toxic smoke that they have inhaled. It dosn't calm down the mind though, as L-Ornithine does that excellently.
Cheers,
Lisa
Suggestions from a fellow sufferer
How well I know those sleepless nights and ensuing symptoms. Some things that have helped me:
(I know some will sound all to familiar, please pardon if they do)
1. Don't drink alcohol right before bed, and if you can even skip the booze a day or two, it might normalize (what's normal??) one's sleep patterns. Plenty of water helps. Dehydration can make a person wake up in the night and not be able to get back to sleep.
2. Have a regular routine and go to bed the same time each night. Yeah, right! Everyone knows musicians never have a normal routine!
3. Use a melatonin supplement. I use a product called "midnight" which works pretty well, and you can take it either before bed or during the night without morning grogginess. Homeopathics can help too.
4. Don't eat less than 3 hours before bed.
5. Shut off loud noises/television/radio an hour or so before bed. Meditation before bedtime usually puts me to sleep as well.
Blessings,
insomnia
My dear friend Mo, You give us all so much. Please take the time to give to yourself. Your creative self has given us music of such greatness and yet I detect your suffering. Know that you are loved and not alone. That those of us who really appreciate what you give want you to get some help. For some of us, your demons are ours. Possibly a break from the crazy pace. Or go back to something you used to love to do that allows you to chill out. Spend time with someone you love and loves you back. You give all the time. Try receiving someone's giving to you. Accept it and know that its a good thing.
On a lighter side, I used to sleepwalk when I was a kid. When you do this, you really can't see as you walk thru the darkness. You navigate by memory. One time as I walked down the stairs in our home, I knocked an aluminium step ladder down the stairs that my mother had left there to clean a window on stairs landing. I woke up everyone in the house. Another time I woke up outside in the driveway. I even did a flip over a loveseat after my mom rearranged the furnature earlier that day. Never a dull moment for us sleepwalkers. I wonder if its possible to sleep drive?
........
Kedves Moby !
Álmatlanság nem jó, mert lelked utazik álmában, találkozik ezzel azzal, s visszatérve gazdagabb lesz egy utazással. S vajon miért fél szemed ruhát adni álmodra, vajon miért fel tested meghalni a mozgásban, s nyugton alámerülni, s mindent elengedni, s csak lenni ?
Csak engedd el magad, s engedd , elméd kikapcsoljon, s utazz egyet álmodban, meglásd, megérezd, az élet csodás, ha magasba tudod emelni a mélységet.
Üdv : Alf
the power of music and talented musicians
Dear Moby,
Five years ago I fell in love with a man who lives in Belgium (I myself lived in Canada at the time). During our first week spent together in Canada, he introduced me to your CDs Hotel and 18. We played them over and over again. I was immediately addicted and your music became the soundtrack of our growing love. When he had to return to Belgium, we both kept listening to your music in our respective countries. Your beautiful music reminded us of our beautiful memories together. When I was sad, nostalgic, and hating the ocean between us, your music was a comfort. Perhaps it sounds strange to say this, but your music helped to keep me strong. A year later I moved to Europe, and we are now living together in Maastricht, the Netherlands.
On Wednesday November 11th, I was able to see you perform for the first time. I cannot tell you how incredible it was to hear your music live, after having listened to your songs hundreds of times and dreaming of seeing you perform. I must say I was blown away- the sight, the sound, the feeling of being there, the energy in the air. My senses were overwhelmed. It was a night to remember. You lifted me up, lifted the crowd up. I want to thank you, for unknowingly being such a powerful source of strength and inspiration to me and many others.
Now that I read of your insomnia, I am even more impressed that you were able to give such an unforgettable performance. I only hope that the strength you give to your fans will soon bring you back to a state of vitality. Which you rightfully deserve.
I hope that I will be able to make it to one of your concerts in the near future. But, in the meantime, I will have your new CD, Wait for Me (congratulations on another musical success).
Thank you, Moby.
xoxo Jessica
Great Show in Paris
Moby,
You are awesome, the show was awesome !
I loved the setlist, including the end that was perfect !
It was the first time I see you on stage, and i'll come back !
Some people say that you seemed tired during the European Tour (I can't tell myself because I didn't see you before), is it true ? Your insomnia troubles are probably due to your crazy lifestyle as you said Friday. In any case, I hope you'll come back and in good shape !!!!!
Will you release a DVD of one of the Wait for Me shows ?
I've seen the live à la Cigale on Dailymotion, thank you for this great FREE video !
See you soon !
Hey Moby, Just seen you in
Hey Moby,
Just seen you in Brussels...Great show...lot's of fun.
But I had the feeling that you didn't had that much fun, not like when ou played at the AB in Brussels, a month ago. When I now read about your sleeping problems I can see why. I have some experience with insomnia and I know how destructief this can be. At one time I realy cracked down and even a almost dead experience was the result. By the way, it's a true storie that you go outside your body, odd experience...What was the reason...I had an verry traumatic periode and during daytime I could controle things, but in my sleep I had no controle over m dreams and afther some time I was simply affraid to fall asleep... But now I'm ok...so I'm sure things will work out for you and ther will be no longer sharks and bears eating you up in a hotelroom...
Take care Moby, and sweet dreams soon...
Sorry for my 'poor' English
I am 9 and saw you in Paris
Sorry but I am French trying to learn this language at school so I can't speak in English. My mother translated my post. My mother is really fan of you since years and dreamt to see you on stage. She realized it last Friday in Paris and invited me as I am fan as well (no choice but listening to your songs in the car when going anywhere with my mother!). I like your songs very much and enjoyed seeing you on stage. My mother bought me a blue sweat with your drawings and since then I don't want to wear anything else. Bravo ! You are the best!
The empty venue
Hello Moby,
The empty venue seems to be forest national in Belgium, where I finally could be to watch your performance in a closer environment than a festival terrain :-).
Ironically, I didn't felt so well at that concert, and even had to go out of the crowd, and thankfully there was a team that had a chair and a sugared water for me to help me back up. Unfortunately i wasn't back for Porcelain to experience it in a full live-and-crowdy environment, but actually it was quite nice, sitting there in a quite dark space hearing the music from a little further than usual and finally having a quite moment to send an sms back to my girlfriend. That all feeling a bit dizzy, tired and 'headached'. I heared the last 10-20s (of Porcelain) or so while i was moving through the crowd and stopped a minute to enjoy the end of what i think is one of the best -if not the best- songs you've ever written (Or the one that i like the most listening to).
But i really liked the performance, although you may really play more of the quite, nice and very relaxing music, too. I really think you're newest CD is brilliant and more people should know about it, even the less-known songs.
Hopefully you take a good rest and finally get that stubborn thing of a walnut in your head convinced that it doesn't have to fear sharks and bears ;-).
Muddler
we're all so much the same
Reading this was almost like reading something I wrote myself - we even use some of the same imagery.
I remember one night around 2am listening to 'The Sky is Broken' and wondering if you'd felt the way I did when you wrote it. (This was the night after I got Wait for Me so I was on a bit of a Moby bender...)
Eventually I climbed out of bed, found some paper and scribbled out a poem, which I later named 'Play', and when it was finally finished I went to sleep. It wasn't great, but it drained my thoughts onto paper so they'd let me be.
So don't ever feel like you're the only one trapped. You've helped me so many times with my own insomnia.. so right back atcha.
andrew
p.s.
Lol, I just read ALL you put. Yes it is a war zone at times. Do try my suggestion though... creating your own dream by using your imagination keeps you from agonizing thoughts. Soft classical music may help you as it does me sometimes concentrate on only this weaving of time and reality into a dreamlike haze.
-Caelum
Capturing Imagination
I weave my own dreams with my imagination while attempting to doze off to soft classical music when I can not sleeep. It works sometimes, sometimes not. Good luck dream weaver...
-Caelum
Insomnia
Hello Moby,
You should take time for you, to reserve you a period to repair and to put all your internal functioning (psychic as physical) back in its proper place.
In spite of what you undergo, you offered us another great concert this evening. Merci!
I hope that the translation is good, I do one' best!
Good Night and remember that any answer is in you.
Ana
Problem Solved
Get some valerian root capsules from the vitamin store. You'll sleep great and right before it's like being on a legal version of Twilight Sleep.
nice job
We just saw you at the Zenith -- great show, and we couldn't tell you hadn't slept. I was floored by "Why Does my Heart Feel So Bad," which I've only heard about, oh, 10 million times. This was an awesome rendition, made it fresh. And the Lou Reed cover, and actually, most everything else, was great. Merci beaucoup, merci beaucoup.
i'm sorry to read how hard
i'm sorry to read how hard insomnia is on you, by the way you tell it you do have a hard time and it's understandable. i wish i could give some advice but i can't. just take care and hope you can sleep soundly soon.
better than up with the sun and sleeping with chickens
Mo,you shouldn`t sleep with chickens,you should sleep with chicks ;)
If you can`t sleep you can open any of your mail and read messages from your fans..i beleive this can bore you and soon you will fall asleep..- try this one time!
take care of yourself,
<3
hum?
stupid question maybe, but you looked very tired at the french tv show "taratata" before yesterday. is it the reason? i don't know when this show was recorded but if you was in paris these days... it's possible.
hope everything is allright for you, take care of you mo'! :)
jb - france
that's rough
I hope you'll catch some sleep (or lots of it) and have a great show 2nite in paris and be able to enjoy it, and I wanted to thank you for an AMAZING, AWESOME, BEAUTIFUL, OVERWHLEMINGLY IMPRESSIVE/IMPRESSIVELY OVERWHELMING SUPER FUN HOT&SWEATY SHOW in brussels on wednesday. youre the best and I will come to your shows every time youre in the neighborhood! you made me so happy moby, thank you :)