Help I am stressing

[DanCa]

Between the hurricane and Robert's nomination as Supreme Court Chief Justice I can't slow my thoughts down to go to sleep. Does anyone have any suggestions? Even cat stevens isn't still my mind tonight.
There's just too much going on, and too much at stake you know?
And is it me or does anyone else feel that the net around murder inc is widening and that Bush is going to get off scott free? It's disgusting the man monkey can do whatever the hell he wants and keep screwing up and theres nil we can do about it. Thanks for letting me vent. Danny.

[Frances]

1. I plan to watch a totally bland mystery DVD

I hope that helps me unwind

[mcctatas]

2. I suggest drinking heavily until 2008

or dimson is out of office (whichever comes first). Other than that, sometimes visual imagery works (for me, I visualize bushco in chains being pelted with rotting produce). Good Luck!

[expatriot]

3. Sleeping pills... it's the only thing that is helping me right now.

nt

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AspenRose]

5. Chocolate

And a news vacation for 24-48 hours.

[spuddonna]

19. Yeah, I've found that's a good combo...

Did that last night for a fe hours, but the lure of needing to know what the neocons have f'd up is strong... must...resist....DU!! :)

[Qibing Zero]

6. I've been writing.

The last week I've had severe trouble myself, so I tried a few things. I started writing with an idea in mind, and I have pages and pages and have yet to get past the foreward. It seems to be working - eventually I get tired enough and can sleep.

[Newsjock]

7. Four wacky ideas

because, yes, I'm having more trouble than usual sleeping also.

1. I keep a book of crossword puzzles by the bed, and I go for the toughest ones I can possibly tackle. After a few minutes of madly filling in words, I come to a stop and I end up staring at the incomplete puzzle until sleep sets in.

2. If that doesn't work, melatonin pill(s) sometimes work, although they can take 30-45 minutes to take effect. For me, they then offer a window of about an hour where getting to sleep is easier. But after that, they're no longer effective, so you have to go to bed at the right time.

3. During the rest of the day, do something -- anything -- physical.

4. Do something -- anything -- for someone else. A sense of making a positive contribution to the world, no matter how small, will help you end the day feeling at least somewhat fulfilled.

[spuddonna]

16. Hey, that's what I do! Crosswords, that is...

I know it might sound weird, but it really seems to help! :)

And I mowed today even though there's no grass... just a few weeds. I think my neighbors think I'm nuts...

[K8-EEE]

8. Melatonin, Sex, and BBC

Otherwise I'd never sleep these days!

[DanCa]

14. Any particular order?

Oh bbc i thought you typed bbq :)

[lady lib]

24. Thank you, DanCa. I really needed that laugh.

:spray:

[DanCa]

29. Thank you Lady Lib, :)

I feel so much better after a good night sleep. Had to resort to a tylenol pm but what the hey. I can't leave DU it's cyber crack , but I am not going to watch the media today except for aar.

[SlowDownFast]

9. Here's a trick I learned somewhere that seems to work

While laying down, close your eyes and look up(position eyeballs as far as they can go) like your trying to see your eyebrows. Hold that position until you're asleep.

I forgot where I learned this technique, but i swear it works everytime.
Longest I can remember doing it is like 30-45 min and viola! I wake up the next morning.

[uppityperson]

18. you are toooooooooooo funny. thank you.

seriously, take a news break. All the bad stuff will be here and there are enough other people to monitor it for a day.

[Radio_Lady]

25. Ouch! That hurts!

[snot]

10. Prescription:

To one degree or another, I think we're all traumatized.
Best cure: feeling able to act to help.
FEMA has deliberately interfered to a large degree, interestingly. But there's still much we can do.
You're probably already e-mailing media and gov'l reps., and friends; but if not, pls do!!!
Below is a compilation of stuff I've been sending; pick out what you like.
*Co WANTS us to lose it, freak out with rage and despair, to get worn down.
Don't let them succeed.
We've all got our limits on what we can handle; you MUST take care of yourself. Like the flight attendant says, give yourself oxygen first, then help those next to you.
And try to give yourself the rest you NEED in order to do what you can tomorrow.

Here's some stuff for e-mails, in case it's helpful. Just start letter with, "Gentlemen and Ladies, please investigate and report on the following," or whatever you prefer.

More info at the links cited.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=22507&mesg_id=22676

FED Responsibility & UNUSUAL Fed PUSH FOR CONTROL!

The more aware we make the media and everyone else, the
harder it will be for * to pull off the worst without being
questioned about it.

Info you can use in letters is below.

Bush admin sought control over Nat’l Guard, normally under
control of governor:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1750979
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301680.html
WP, A01: White House Shifts Blame
Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal
officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Blanco
(D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration
sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a
federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source
within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.

The administration had sought control over National Guard
units, normally under control of the governor. Louisiana
officials rejected the request, noting that such a move would
be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. State
authorities suspected a political motive behind the request.
"Quite frankly, if they'd been able to pull off taking
it away from the locals, they then could have blamed
everything on the locals," said the source, who is an
adviser and does not have the authority to speak publicly.

Links to posts to the effect that numerous states had offered
their N.G. before Katrina hit and Blanco had accepted, but
that no one could move until the feds had provided the
required paperwork or order, which in at least some cases did
not materialize until Thursday; see, e.g.,
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1749337
See also
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2057771
; http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/katrina_national_guard ;
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4610280
;
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2058654
;
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4605183&mesg_id=4605183

Re- Concerns that N.O. is Being Taken in Order to Be Given to
Developers:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4647282

Use of U.S. Military as "Police" Against Citizens:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2064994

FEMA Deliberately Crippling Communications:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4628409

"I was skeptical about the jamming of radio
frequencies..."
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16475033%255E2703,00.html

Inside Sheriff Lee, of Jefferson parish in New Orleans, is
sitting at a table, fuming. He is doing his best to
alleviate the biggest catastrophe he will ever witness, but
lacks even the most basic of resources. He cannot
communicate with his own officers -- his officers can barely
communicate with each other -- because the overloaded radio
frequency keeps jamming.

http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m15382&l=i&size=1&hd=0

"We can now report that the jamming of New Orleans'
communications is emanating from a pirate radio station in
the Caribbean," explains Madsen. "The noise is
continuous and it is jamming frequencies, including emergency
high frequency (HF) radios, in the New Orleans area. The radio
frequency jammers were heard last night, stopped for a while,
and are active again today.... However, we now have a new
unconfirmed report that the culprit may be the Pentagon
itself. The emitter is an IF (Intermediate Frequency) jammer
that is operating south southwest of New Orleans on board a
U.S. Navy ship, according to an anonymous source. The jamming
is cross-spectrum and interfering with superheterodyne
receiver components, including the emergency radios being
used in New Orleans relief efforts.... A Vancouver, British
Columbia Urban Search & Rescue Team deployed to New
Orleans reported that their satellite phones were not working
and they had to obtain other satellite phones to keep in touch
with their headquarters and other emergency agencies in
British Columbia." There are also rumors spreading on
forums and blogs that troops are confiscating and destroying
civilian cameras. Graphic photos are however surfacing on the
internet, once again trumping the corporate media, handmaiden
to Bushian crimes and cover-ups.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9179790 /

The Coast Guard said, "Come get the fuel right
away." When we got there with our trucks, they got a
word. "FEMA says don't give you the fuel."
Yesterday--yesterday--FEMA comes in and cuts all of our
emergency communication lines. They cut them without notice.
Our sheriff, Harry Lee, goes back in, he reconnects the line.
He posts armed guards on our line and says, "No one is
getting near these lines." Sheriff Harry Lee said that
if America--American government would have responded like
Wal-Mart has responded, we wouldn't be in this crisis.

Suspension of posse comatatus:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4628627
; see also info in thread at
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4624810

[Erika]

11. I wait to hear how the RW'rs explain his totally incompetency

I was most disgusted when W strummed and Condi (Emelda) shopped while one of our greatest cities was lost. It's on their backs, not ours.

They let the urban blacks and poor die without a blink of the eye. It is a horror, but so many of us tried to vote and do the right things. Sleep well.

You will need it for strength.

[marcus_b]

12. Cut off the media.

I don't know anything about you, but chances are that you live in a calm area, and nothing is happening immediately around you. So, you can take a break. Shut down the media.

De-cable your TV, and bring it down into the cellar. Switch off your computer, and pull the plug. Don't read newspapers, don't listen to the radio. Cut it all off.

Then do something in your own real life. Go for a walk, meet up with friends, take a bath, read a good book. You are entitled to it, and it will do you good. Give yourself a good time.

If you have tanked some fresh energy, pick a small area you want to work on and focus on that. And never work alone.

Wish you luck!

[earth mom]

13. Don't let fear win.

We're all in the same boat and feeling the same way no doubt. That's why DU is at level 3 right now-everyone is here freaking out and wanting answers!

What has consoled me the past week is this:

1. The whole world and the whole country has seen Bush Co in the harshest ugliest light ever.
2. People are angry at Bush & Co for his disgusting inhumane treatment of the people of NOLA.
3. Gas prices have gone up and it's hurting people financially and they aren't going to put up with it much longer.
4. Some in the media are being honest for the first time in years.
5. Cindy Sheehan.
6. Patrick Fitzgerald and the Grand Jury.

Think about these positive developments, have a beer and find a couple of good comedies to watch and stay away from the news and the computer for a while. You WILL feel better. :)

[DanCa]

15. Actually it's more disgust than fear.

I can't believe that theres people still deffending Murder Inc.

[me b zola]

22. True. There are people defending murder*inc.

But there are so many more of us working for justice!!:)

There is no easy answer to sleep. The fact that you find it difficult ot sleep only speeks to your characror. Personally, I sit up most nights reading DU and what is going on until I cannot stay awake any longer.

Dan, you are a special person. Please take care of yourself. :hug:

[DanCa]

30. Thank you Zola,

Your pretty remarkable yourself. :)

[libhill]

17. I know where you're coming from

haven't slept worth shit in days. I'm disgusted with this disgrace of a nation, disgusted to be an American. If I had the financial means, I'd leave this shitty country tonite, and never fucking look back.

[charlie]

20. Back out of DU for the night

Stay away from anything remotely tainted with politics or current events. Visit sites you enjoy because they're fun. You won't stop ruminating if you stay immersed in this distressing stuff. Getting engrossed in something because it's pleasurable is an excellent way to cool those runaway mental cylinders.

[WhiteTara]

21. well, if it's any comfort, Frist

is postponing the Roberts hearings. The Dems have come in with a plan and monkey boy is rearranging his entire Sept. scheduld in response to the real life situation on the ground.
Sleep well, the sun will rise in the morning.
:hi:

[DanCa]

23. Thanks my friends you guys prove your worth everytime.

I am going to go on a temp news black out. I think it's time.
I dont know about abandoning DU this place is the best place to be bar none.

[Synnical]

26. I had to stop watching the TV coverage

Because I was having nitemares. Dreamnt of being trapped by water in a house that was falling apart around me, all the streets were covered with water. Not to mention worries of being raped.

Don't know if that is because I weathered Andrew or because I'm just so distraught at what is taking place in NOLA.

Cannot imagine what the evacuees are feeling . . .

Just cannot . . .

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[Gemini Cat]

27. I can't sleep either.

I can't take sleeping aids and I am scared to drink, because I may not stop.
So I either watch stupid sit-coms or I read sci-fi, when I can't watch or read any more news.

[bananas]

28. Benadryl and valerian

Two 25mg Benadryl tablets work great, take with a large glass of water.
You can get them at the 24-hour convenience store if you're desperate.
It's OTC allergy medicine, and drowsiness is a side effect.
The generic brands work just as well as the name brand.
I'm pretty sure it's safe to take with alcohol.

[katahdin]

31. Sleep

1. Melatonin
2. Kava
3. Camomile tea

Sweet dreams!

[DanCa]

32. welcome to DU Katahdin

Thank you for the advice . Hopefully tonight will be much better.

[tlsmith1963]

33. I Had to Listen to...

...my stepfather defend Bush yesterday. It is so damn hard right now. I was crying a lot yesterday. With me, there is definitely fear involved. I have never been so afraid in my life! We have to *do* something! This country is going to collapse if these thugs aren't stopped!

Tammy