Lullaby is for babies, but what can help insomniacs?

Bansh baganer mathar upor chand uthechhe oi/ Mago amar sholok bola Kajla Didi koi?

In this poignant poem, Jotindramohon Bagchi presents the sweet and sad emotion experienced by a little restive soul that cannot go to sleep because she is sorely missing her Kajla Didi who used to tell her folktale every night. In Western culture too, lullaby is softly sung for helping babies to sleep. One such highly popular lullaby is composed by Johannes Brahms from Hamburg, Germany. Known as the Lullaby and Goodnight, it has a magical touch enough to make a baby sleepy. It runs like this: Lullaby, and goodnight,/With pink roses bedight,/With lilies overspread,/Is my baby's sweet head. Another famous lullaby song composed by Billy Joel is "Goodnight My Angel" was dedicated as a tribute to his daughter Alexa Ray Joel. One of its popular lines is Goodnight my angel, now it's time to sleep.

So, it is clear that mothers everywhere use soft rhymes chanting those like soothing mantras to their babies before the little ones fall asleep. It is heavenly to see babies falling into deep slumber. Sometimes their mouths transform into an angelic smile. Unless babies suffer illness, theirs is an innocent realm the doors of which are shut to the adults. Similarly, no lullaby is enough to help the elderly have a deep sleep. In fact, many people in their midlife or old age suffer from insomnia. It is a terrible experience to go through, if one becomes a chronic insomniac.

This, however, does not happen without reasons. Ageing has its attendant complications in multifarious ways. Hypertension, anxiety, hatred and humiliation, sudden bursts of anger, heated exchange with someone---there are uncountable provocative causes behind pushing a person into insomnia. The ambience of peace and motherly protection have long passed and now heavy responsibilities on shoulders hardly give most people the sought-after peace. Of course, not all people fall in the trap, particularly there are stoics who can stay indifferent to the stormy developments all around. Some practises yoga, pranayama and meditation in order to overcome such a crisis of sleep. Others simply fall for sleeping pill to become vulnerable to the drug.

Indeed, with the loss of innocence of babyhood or childhood, people also lose their precious sleep. Some also make it a choice for staying awake all night either for study, research or in the worst case scenario watching adult cinema or playing online computer games. They have no regular time for eating and performing their duties as well as going to bed. The little girl in "Kajla Didi" did struggle for sleep because her guide, protector and mentor is gone and gone for ever to the unknown beyond from where no one returns. But senior people have their own problems they cannot address notwithstanding the best of the effort they put in.

Persons known as night owls are found all across the world. The majority of such individuals fail to appreciate the bliss of a sound sleep. Their only concern is to make the most of the present time but in the process, they develop complications that trouble them throughout their life and at times cut it short. But for others, the bane comes down upon because of bouts of diseases they suffer for physical constitution or hereditary or genetic legacy they inherit. Thus, there is a difference between compulsive night owls and involuntary insomniacs.

However, it does not quite explain the strange behaviours of those who would engage in arranging things in the room or washing clothes late at night. Even they cannot explain or even remember why they do so. They are called sleepwalkers or somnambulists. The strange behaviour of doing things even when they are in deep sleep sounds contradictory but the truth is that there are people who really do so. Yet another type of people, albeit a minuscule of their number, do not sleep for years together and still stay alive. Life is a riddle indeed, it is as mysterious as wonderous and amazing.

Doctors suggest seven to nine hours sleep for an adult person and more for babies and children. But some people sleep for a few hours without complications. Myth has it that Napoleon Bonaparte used to sleep for only three to four hours at night. Even in time of wars, he used to snap a short sleep on his horse for only 15 minutes. He had the uncanny habit of closing all the drawers in his mind to go into a volitional state of sleep any time he wanted.

If practised for long, many should be able to do so. There is no point suffering from insomnia, if there is a leeway of avoiding the bane. Insomnia caused by the effects of drugs may not easily be overcome but those eager to get rid of the tumultuous mental state may try at least some of the proven methods such as yoga, pranayama and meditation. Sonata and symphony or any classical music may also help.