Dear Sleepless in the City,

Insomnia is one of the emotional and behavioral responses to stress. Stress is the sum of your reactions to any stimulus that tends to disturb your natural balance. Alice can give you some quick tips for how to fall asleep, but, in the long run, you might also want to look for outlets to the stress and tension that build up during the day.

Some ideas to help you sleep are: taking a warm bath; listening to quiet music (Windham Hill type); counting sheep; preparing a list of all your worries before you go to sleep and then FORGETting about them; progressive relaxation of each part of your body -- start with your toes, and, inch by inch, consciously relax each body part up to your head; singing a simple repetitious song to yourself (Alice uses one in Zulu taught to her by a man from South Africa); cutting down on your intake of caffeine and chocolate at night; and, reading your most boring homework assignment in bed.

In the long run, try integrating more exercise into your life. It's a great, healthy way to release built-up tension. Try to eat a nutritious, sensible diet, reducing caffeine, chocolate, and sugar intake. Everyone will not agree with Alice, but Alice pumps up her vitamins, taking a stress-B formula. And, most importantly, LIGHTEN UP and CHILL OUT!! Get a good laugh in, detach yourself a bit, and don't be a slave to life's dramas.

Sweet dreams!!!

Alice

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