Insomnia is a fairly common and most aggravating condition. We’ve all had bouts of it.

In my case, insomnia seems to be entirely held in sway by my brain. I am a ruminator. My mind latches on to things and won’t let go.

It may be an idea I am trying to process. Or plans for a room I am eager to decorate. Or a relationship problem I can’t seem to satisfactorily resolve. I feel stuck so I try to think my way out of the problem.

That is sort of what insomnia is. Getting stuck in wake mode. (I said wake not woke, not that there is anything wrong with that except it is a whole other blog post.)

I try all of my trusty “go-to” solutions. I eat a banana. Something about ingesting carbs at bedtime helps you sleep? Or I warm a cup of milk. If at hand, I throw in a little vanilla and nutmeg to jazz up the taste. In milk, I believe, is an enzyme called L-tryptophan and it aids sleep.

Maybe I just made that up. I know for sure there is L-tryptophan in turkey. You know that, too, if a huge turkey dinner has sent you off to la-la land for an hour or two. Even if you don’t sleep, you are hardly likely to jump tall buildings in a single bound.

Some families have deep and disturbing memories of Uncle Frank’s drifting off into sonorous snoozing at the holiday dinner table just after the dessert course. And the liqueurs.

Other tried and true methods include watching TV (preferably some unbearably predictable serial cop show where the plot is so formulaic, you can be put to – or called to – sleep without even starting the episode.)

Reading is another favorite insomnia slayer. If I’m lucky. It depends on the book. I usually select an interesting but not too riveting novel of some sort. Page by page, I feel my eyes getting heavier and heavier.

When I am at the point where I can barely keep them awake, it is time to close up the book and put it away. The novel’s work with me is done for the night.

I also play meditation videos but with only the sound on. I darken the computer screen. I slip on a stereo headband, zero in on some sleep meditation that will introduce me to my spirit guides or instantly cure my anxiety.

Tall orders. I have yet to meet any spirit guides personally and my anxiety is usually generated by my inability to get to sleep. So if a meditation video eventually does put me to sleep, problem solved. The anxiety gone.

So I faced that last night. Went through my mental Rolodex (remember those?) of quick and easy fixes. Warm milk? Check. Banana? Check. Reading a not-too-interesting novel? Also check.

They were moderately successful. The only evidence I have, of course, is that I did finally slip into sleep and have awoken feeling fairly refreshed and well-rested ready to face the day.

Take that, insomnia!

We have girded our loins and are ready, willing and able to do battle with you. And at any time you care to announce and intrude with your irritating – and blessedly infrequent in my case – presence.