About Martin M Expertise Health is in the body, it`s in the mind and it`s in the emotions. About the body you can ask anyone, the other two are not so easy to discuss. Genitals are tricky subjects as well. So, just when sex is new and relationships become complex, who can you talk to? Teens need to grow up healthily in ALL respects. Your sex-life has just started, don`t let it start all knotted up. If you worry about the first time, kissing, virginity, STD`s, love, genital size, masturbation, homosexuality, self-confidence, oral sex or any such matter, ask away. Get it off your chest, don`t worry, be happy.
Experience I?m not a doctor, but I learned much about much. On this site I advised and helped hundreds of people who had problems and questions about their body, sexuality and relationships. I specialize in questions that are SILLY, PRIVATE, EMBARRASSING, DIRTY and STUPID. Somewhere in your teens, you run into puberty and sex gets to be an item. You learn the basics about puberty and sex at school and at home, but where do you get the details? The weird and naughty bits? Who do you ask those private and embarrassing questions? You don?t want to look dirty-minded asking a teacher, you don?t want to look silly and stupid asking a friend. If you don?t ask, you worry and blunder. That?s where I come in. Old enough to know, young enough (at heart) to understand you.
Expert: Martin M Date: 6/15/2005 Subject: Insomnia
Question Hello;
I think I am an insomniac. I can only sleep about 4 to 5 continuous hours at night and maybe a few in the afternoon if I have time. I do not think I am getting enough sleep because I am 18 years old and recieve about 6 to 7 hours of sleep per day. I believe I have some symptoms of insomnia because it takes me long hours to sleep, any disturbance wakes me up, I am snappy and grouchy when I wake up and I can only sleep so many hours per night. What can I do about this problem?
Thank you.
Answer Dear Assma,
I'm not an expert on sleep, I do sexual problems. But 6-7 hours of sleep per day does not sound worrisome to me. The average is 8 hours and young adults usually need a bit less. ‘Light' sleep (where you wake up easily) is more healthy than the deep “like-the-dead” kind. I don't think you have a serious problem, it rather looks like you're a light sleeper with a morning-temper who has trouble relaxing.
Your mail shows me you are intelligent (the average question is ten words, eight misspelled, that may make sense to the one who wrote them). Smart people think too much. Your question shows you are a bit of a worrier. Fatal combination for getting to sleep.
I suggest you focus on relaxing before you go to bed. Unrelaxed sleep comes late and remains twitchy. Try to get your mind off your daily business, don't do complex things like conversations, heavy TV-shows, chess or household paperwork. Or worried mails to AllExperts. NO coffee or tea after eight. Go limp in the easiest seat you have, play Vivaldi and sip brandy. Red wine and Wagner may keep you awake. Empty the mind of worries, drift with silly and rosy fantasies till you feel drowsy, and have sex.
Well, its what I'm here for on AllExperts. It relaxes like nothing else.
Don't go to bed hungry but don't overstuff yourself either. Few nuts, cubes of cheese. Apple stimulates, orange and mandarin sedate. No mint, no chocolate. Don't go to bed too early, wait till you start feeling drowsy. But most important: clear the mind of daily worries. Today is over and done with, tomorrow does not yet exist. Right now you have the aftertaste of brandy and orange, a warm bed and darkness. Stick to that. Have a pot of black paint ready in your imagination, and a big brush. Whenever a worry enters your mind, slop black paint all over it. If you MUST think, think up a long story about fairies and flowers. If you still lie awake for more than an hour, get up, keep the lights low, the room quiet and sip some more brandy for half an hour.
Try. If that does not work enough you can try Valerian. It's herbal and perfectly harmless, but it will make you sleep well. If that fails too, see a doctor. If you really are an insomniac, let him tell you I was wrong all the way. Except for the sex, of course.
