Sweet Dreams

I woke last night to the sound of thunder. “How far off?” I sat up and wondered, a patina of sweat on my arms, sheets and pillow damp. Actually, I was kinda glad that I woke. I was just about to die again.

They say that if you dream that you die, you will actually die.

Not sure if I believe that. I’ve been dying a lot in my dreams lately. Don’t know why. To be chronologically accurate, I am not sure if I actually die in my dreams and then wake, or if I wake just prior to dying. Regardless, it is always comforting to come around and realize that I am not, in fact, dead.

I think my worst dreams are dreams I have about my pets. My pets are my sunrise and sunset. I’d do anything for my furred and feathered family. When I’m not dying in my dreams sometimes I dream that one of my pets has died. I wake totally freaked out, heart racing, head pounding. My critters usually share the bed with me (read my “Spooning with my Dog” blog) so the first thing I do is grope around to find the fur that belongs to whichever pet just supposedly died. Of course, as soon as I find the pet in question I pull them close and hug them like I’m never going to let go. Whichever one it is gives me one of those critter grumbles, “What are you doing – I was sound asleep, you idiot!”

I’ve never been a good sleeper. But, apparently I am not alone. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, in a 2007 survey, approximately 64 million Americans suffer from some form of insomnia, with women being more affected.

There are different types of insomnia. But, who cares. If you can’t sleep, you can’t sleep.

Do you think it is our profession that contributes to our sleeplessness? I suspect, that at least in my case, it does. I know that when I am on call I never sleep. I try, but I end up just laying in bed waiting for the phone to ring. If on the off chance I actually do doze off, and the phone does ring, even if I don’t have to go in, that’s it – game over. There are absolutely no Zzzzzs from that point on.

Back to the dream stuff. Most people have at least one recurring dream that haunts them over and over. Recurring dreams are those that happen over and over, day after day (sometimes even multiple times in the same night) and can go on for months, or in some cases, years. According to multiple “dream sites” on the internet, the most common recurring dreams are: being caught naked in public, being chased but your legs are moving in slow motion, losing your teeth (your teeth are falling out) and continuously falling (never hitting the bottom).

Although, I have to admit, I have had the losing your teeth dream a few times, my nightmare recurring dream evolves around sports. Specifically, basketball.

For those of you that know me, or have at least seen me, you know that I more closely approximate a jockey in size rather than a basketball player. That said, I did play basketball in high school, but I really sucked. I played guard, second team, and never scored any points.

In my recurring dream I have a breakaway. I am dribbling toward an unguarded hoop, the clock is winding down, we are behind by one point and my basket could win the game. I always miss.

I’ve attempted that shot at least a million times in my dreams. It always ends the same way -- I miss.

I suppose the dream could be worse. But, it is really frustrating.

Okay – I’m taking a survey. What is your recurring nightmare? Have you ever died in your sleep? Do you actually sleep? What are your secrets to a good night’s sleep?