Home is the only place I can't sleep soundly. I've visited and lived in other places where I've had no problems. I notice at home I don't sleep deeply, nor feel well-rested, I get fluttering sounds in my ear, and it seems like I hear a constant light high frequency sound when all else is silent. Furthermore, when my son visits he also has a hard time sleeping. I've done some investigating, thought it may be due to the altitude (I live a mile high) I've tried unplugging anything from an outlet, I've also tested for EMF levels (my fridge emits the most, but only close range). I live 1 1/2 miles from an electric plant, 2 miles from an old landfill, 1/2 a mile from a dirt-digging site. So I'm a bit paranoid, especially since my house was recently paid off. My physical health may also be suffering because of this (joint/back problems).
How debilitating can insomnia be? Can you think of some possible solutions?
You could be right about the altitude. There is less oxygen with higher altitudes. This could create more anxiety that can interfere with sleep. Especially if you are anemic, your hemoglobin is being bound by carbon monoxide or you have respiratory issues.
Short of trying an oxygen source such as an oxygen tank or concentrator with a cannula I am not sure how you are going to know if this is the problem.
I also suffer with insomnia. Unfortunately I had to resort to taking drugs for now.
I did investigate 'grounding' and have read a lot about it. I want to give it a go but some of the products are costly.
Just google 'earthing' or 'grounding' ... you tube has lots of vids about it as well. Can't hurt to check it out right?
Why don't you just make your own grounding materials? You can make them for less than $10. Some conductive foam from Radio Shack and some phone wire.
I think I discussed this a while back in a thread about grounding here on this forum.
Not sure I'm that 'handy' to create something like that, HV!
What I try to do is just walk barefoot or put my bare feet on the ground while I sit out in the sun. That's free enough!
But I haven't been very consistent with that yet!
There really is not much too it. Simply take the conductive foam pieces and cut them lengthwise about an inch or two wide. The width is not that important. Sew the ends together to make a piece that will fit all the way around your ankle. Sew some Velcro, the male on one end and the female on the other so the Velcro will hold the foam to the skin when wrapped around the ankle. Now take a length of single strand wire from some phone wire. Cut it long enough to go from a ground such as the screw on an outlet plate to where you will be such as bed or sitting at the computer. Strip the casing off both ends of the wire about 1/2 inch. Push one end in to the foam and glue it in to place. The other end of the wire is connected to an outlet screw. Just loosen the screw that holds the outlet plate on, bend the tip of the wire in to a "U" shape then put it between the screw and plate and tighten the screw. That is all there is to it, you are set to go. Just wrap the foam around your ankle and fasten the Velcro. The foam is conductive and the screw goes to ground. Therefore as long as the wire is connected to the screw and the foam and the foam is in contact with your skin you are grounded.
The foam is a couple of dollars. The Velcro another couple of dollars. The phone wire probably $3 for 25 feet. For example you can just buy a 25 foot phone cord and cut the ends off.
Thanks for all that info, James. Sounds like an excellent project to add to my husband's 'honey-do' list!
Sounds like that can take a while. This really is something you can easily do.
Forgot to add that if you do not want to attach it to your ankle and you want to see if grounding will help your sleep you can simply lay the conductive foam on your bed where it will contact your skin while you sleep. As long as it is contacting your skin and it is connected to a ground it will work.
James, by any chance, do you have a you-tube video showing how to do this? What the parts look like, etc. Don't get me wrong - your explanation is quite clear. But sometimes a picture is worth 1000 words for us visual learners ;)
Maybe some day I will do a video, but I have done a video of anything in quite a while. I am trying to get something going that I will explain later, and then I may get back to doing some more videos. Here, maybe this will help:
1 2 3
l///////)-------------------------[llllllllllllllllllllll]
1. Is the screw to a wall outlet plate.
2. Is the wire with both ends stripped connected to the screw and the the other end to the conductive foam.
3. Is the conductive foam.