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Perhaps you're someone whose mind is always busy. Do you think about the events of your day as you wind down for the evening? Do you worry about your family, your job, your finances, and what tomorrow will bring?
Sometimes it's difficult to empty your mind of all these details long enough to fall asleep. This can lead to tossing and turning as your mind fights sleep.
There are several ways that you can reduce the worry about situations and events in your life long enough to allow you to rest and fall asleep. The key is finding a process that works for you. The goal is to clear your mind and consciously realize that tomorrow is the time to tackle problems and tonight is the time to sleep.
One technique you can try is the practice of writing down all your worries and concerns before you retire for the night. Keep a notebook available for just this purpose.
List in point form those things that you are worrying about. Make note of which of these items you can deal with tomorrow. Have a decisive plan of action for what you are going to accomplish tomorrow.
This will make you feel positive that tomorrow you will take care of certain items on your "worry list".
Make a separate list in your notebook that contains only those things in your life over which you have no control. Firmly tell yourself that these items are beyond your power.
Once you have completed your two lists it is time to close the notebook and repeat to yourself that you will not think of these worries until tomorrow. If, during the night, you find yourself thinking about any of the items in either list make a mental note to catch yourself and sternly remind yourself that the covers of the notebook are closed and cannot be opened.
Another technique for keeping daily anxiety and worry out of your thoughts while you try to fall asleep is to keep a daily diary.
Make sure to include all your worries and fears in your diary along with the events of the day. The goal here is to actualize your feelings in writing so that you can be free of them in the evening.
The act of physically writing is the key here to acknowledging that you are worried while at the same time giving yourself permission to rest and deal with these feeling tomorrow.
You can reduce the effects that worry and stress can create for your body by using some of the other methods for achieving relaxation described in this book.
You may want to consider a combination of soothing music and yoga to clear your mind. Or perhaps reading quietly will keep your mind from wandering back to the stressful thoughts you had during the day.
Once again, the goal here is to relax and prepare you for a night of restful sleep.
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Click Here for more informationAbuse is the most horrible attempt at power that I have ever researched! This is why:
The shame that is felt by an abused person is so deep that it takes years to unfold, then years to put in a safe place. Some never get that far. They turn to drugs, alcohol, and even eating disorders that tear their physical being apart. Some even repeat the same actions that were done to them with, their spouses or children.
Definition of Shame: "the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etc., done by oneself or another." In the issue of abuse, shame is what the victim is left to deal with and live with forever.
An abused person can turn their guilt towards their abuser to free themselves of that horrible feeling, but they are still scarred by shame. They continue to suffer in a torture that is far worse than the actual abuse they have experienced. To feel powerless and unable to stop the abuse, is just the beginning of the after effects of the horrible shock that their mind has had to deal with. To know and to fear that it will occur again and again, and that they are just one step away from crying out for help, but cannot, is another part of the shame that haunts them.
Most abuse victims do not understand that it is not their physical self that has undergone the abuse. The mental abuse is what hurts so much. It's just a means to an end in the abusers mind. It's a green light, so to speak, for them to enter. The abuser will use that to feel the power that is being seeked through abuse. And also to take away your power, thus leaving you powerless. By making the abused person feel powerless, their emotional well-being is tortured. That is where the abused needs to start to repair themselves, in their mind. They need to focus on their emotional wounds first and foremost. Only then can the healing process begin.
I really want to stress here that the abuser made sure that you are in a NO WIN situation and that all the aces are in their hand. There is not one thing that you could have said, thought, or done in preparation for this horrible attack. You are NOT at fault. The entire demeaning, emotional attack was way out of your hands to stop. The abuser used a very detailed plan in regards to what steps would get you at exactly the right time and with what method.
Many victims will seek out professional help. Some victims wait until they have already tried many, not so healthy, ways to escape the reality of the abuse period. Some never even get that far. They are the ones that give in to the pain and elect to erase themselves. (suicide).
A very important thing that all abused victims should HEAR me say is that your abuser has put a lot of energy and thought into their plan. Their plan was to delete you of all power and to make them "The All-Powerful". You had NO chance, even before the beginning of your abuse. Have you ever said that you would rather endure physical pain than to have the mental agony eat you apart? That is what an abused victim feels with every breathe they take.
The abuser will use any tricks to corner its prey, such as coercion, weapons, surprise attacks, and an age difference whether it be younger or much older victims. Abusers have even been reported using their power in their job title, or position as landlords. Male abusers may hold financial security over their victims head as a threat in order to keep them from leaving and seeking help outside the home (prison). Men, in general, are more capable of using violence than women. This fact alone places women as an easier target for abuse.
Victims of abuse go through many different emotions through out their existence, after the abuse, and even during. They tend to:
Shame is a very controlling emotion. It's an emotion that your mind can rid itself of. You must stop judging yourself. Hate the abuser, hate the actions, and hate the ways that you feel from the horrible experiences that you have survived. Hate that you did not kill that bad person, hate that someone else did not hear your cries for help, hate that you were the chosen victim, hate that you did not wake up and it was all a very bad dream. Hate all that and hate it hard.
Now, separate that hate from the hate that you feel for yourself. Scream at the hate that you feel inside. It is that hate that is keeping you weak. With that weakness, shame, guilt, self doubt, and self-hate are being allowed to toy with your mind which is totally abusing your life now. Can you see what has happened now? You, in fact have become the abuser to you. The one thing that you hate so much is in you now. As quickly as you can say "STOP", do it. Stop abusing you. Stop allowing the past abuse to rule your life. Laugh at it, kick at it, spit at it, call it the worst names you can think of. PLEASE, PLEASE , JUST STOP HURTING YOU. Love you, hug you, know that you are SPECIAL, and that you are not the abuser. You were the victim, the innocent person in a NO WIN situation. You can do it. Have faith in you. It's time to change the chapter in your book and write a much sunnier, happier chapter. You are the author of your book of life. You can change the page. It is in your hands to do.
Build your self-esteem so that you can stomp out your fears, anxieties, and anger. I will look forward to reading your new book. Please feel free to share with me your story, so I can appreciate your book of life. There are also others that may gain strength through your book. Abuse is not acceptable, nor is it human. Please stop the abuse!!!
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"Domestic violence causes far more pain than the visible marks of bruises and scars. It is devastating to be abused by someone that you love and think loves you in return. It is estimated that approximately 3 million incidents of domestic violence are reported each year in the United States." -Dianne Feinstein
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"Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime." -Herbert Ward
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Click Here for more informationAttention Deficit Disorder (ADD) can result in impotence. It's associated with low attention spans and hyperactivity. The symptoms are manifested early in childhood and continue in varying degrees into adulthood. Antidepressants and stimulants can control ADD disorder to certain extents. But, in the long run, it can lead to impotence.
ADD also called ADHD is more common among boys than girls. Extreme restlessness, feeding difficulties and constant thirst are the symptoms during childhood. As adults they show poor concentration. They are fearless in taking unwanted risks, have inflexible personality and suffer from constant Sleep Problems. Treatment during the early years can control ADD disorder to a certain extent. Meeting a good doctor is the appropriate way to begin a treatment. For men who suffer from this disorder, consultation of a medical practitioner is necessary to learn more about erectile dysfunction.
Adderall is an effective drug for treating ADD. Though the drug boosts sex drive initially, after some time the interest
in sex diminishes. Impotence is the biggest casualty for men who have ADD. Studies on animals showed that amphetamines can decrease testosterone levels in the body. The levels of testosterone predict erections in men. A decreasing testosterone level is an alarm signal for men
who are under anti-depressants as it increases the possibility of impotence in them.
Common side effects of Adderall
Tremor
Anxiety
Nervousness and headache
Dizziness and dryness in mouth
Change in sexual desires
Weakness is associated with ADD. It can spark off impotence leaving men frustrated and unhappy. It also alters the blood flow and decreases the heart beat. A reduced blood flow affects the erection function. Drugs like Adderall can provide relief in treating ADD but in the process, it will impede the normal flow of blood and cause impotence in men.
Nothing can prepare new parents for the mind numbing weariness that comes with lack of sleep. A new baby may be tiny but the havoc they wreak to your sleep is huge. It can take work to establish good sleeping habits. One of the hardest things for your baby is to learn to fall asleep on his own.
I firmly believe that parents need to reclaim their evenings. Babies and young children need to go to bed at a reasonable hour so that you can enjoy some adult time (Even if that just means crashing out on the sofa in front of the TV) What you don't want is to be running up and downstairs all evening in response to the baby monitor!
Baby is used to falling asleep with a parent. It may be tempting to rock that crying baby to sleep - it may seem quicker but in the long run you are not helping your baby to learn that sleep is something he needs to do alone.
If you establish a bedtime routine which you stick to every night and after several months your baby will still not fall asleep you might like to try the Ferber Method. Dr. Richard Ferber sets out a schedule that will gradually encourage your baby to sleep without you. This will include getting off to sleep in the first place but will have a knock on effect if baby wakes up during the night.
If you decide to try the Ferber Method choose a time when you can afford to loose some sleep. It will take a couple of weeks of hard work but the rewards will be long term and permanent.
Essentially the Ferber method encourages you to gradually wean your baby from falling asleep with a parent. It does involve listening to your baby cry - so steal yourself to this.
The first night you put your baby to bed as usual (a calm bedtime routine is essential) Baby should be sleepy but still awake when you put him down (You want him to fall asleep alone - not in your arms)
Leave the room. When baby starts to cry (as he inevitably will) sit it out for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes return to the bedroom and soothe baby. You must not pick him up or rock him - just a gentle stroke or pat so that he knows you are close by. Leave the room again and this time wait 10 minutes before you return. Again sooth but do not pick up baby. Leave again and this time wait 15 minutes.
Make 15 minutes the maximum wait time for the rest of the night. Return to the bedroom - sooth and leave. During one of the 15 minutes he will fall asleep.
On the second night start with a ten minute wait and work up to 20 minutes.
On the third night start with a 15 minutes and work up to 25
Each night increase the times by 5 minutes.
These time intervals are not cast in stone - make them smaller if you wish but it's really important that you don't cave. It can seem heartbreaking to listen to your baby cry. But you are close by, it's a plan not indifference.
I used the Ferber method with my daughter, when she was a toddler. We had not experienced Sleep Problems when she was a baby in a crib. The difficulties started when we transferred her to a bed. The night time "pantomime" got more and more elaborate as she extended the time I was in the room with her. She used every trick in the book to get me back into her bedroom and to delay the time when she settled down to sleep.
By the time I came across Dr Ferber's book I was desperate. It was taking longer and longer every night to get her off to sleep but I wasn't prepared for how hard it would be to leave my daughter to cry. In fact most times I was sitting on the stairs crying too. My husband encouraged me stick at it and I'm glad that we did. It really did just take a couple of weeks to set up a pattern that lasted all through her childhood. I found that I could spend some enjoyable bedtimes, reading stories etc, confident that when I said "goodnight" she would snuggle down and go to sleep without any fuss
Dreams are something that we all have. Some Dreams are good, some dreams are bad, some dreams leave you feeling confused because you can't figure out what they are supposed to mean. Some people feel that dreams can be prophetic, and maybe in some cases they are. People often have dreams where they are either cheating on their significant other, or their significant other is cheating on them. Dreams about infidelity and cheating are some of the most common dreams that there are, but they don't necessarily mean that anyone is actually cheating. Dreams very rarely mean exactly what they seem to mean. Look up any dream in a dream dictionary and you will see that this is true.
If you have a dream that your significant other is cheating on you it may indicate a fear on your part of being abandoned. You could also be feeling a lack of attention from your partner. Having dreams that your partner is cheating on you can also mean that you don't feel as though you measure up. For example you may feel as though you are falling short of the expectations that you have for yourself or that others have for you. Occasionally dreams about your significant other cheating on you can be a sign that your subconscious is picking up on cues that they are not being completely honest with you or that they are not fully vested in the relationship.
Dreams about being cheated on can indicate that you have a feeling either consciously or subconsciously that your partner is keeping something from you. These dreams can also occasionally mean that your subconscious has picked up on subtle changes in the relationship. Changes such as a new fitness routine or diet, changes in cologne or appearance, or a new wardrobe can sometimes signal that your partner has an interest in someone new.
If you have a dream that you are cheating on your significant other it may be an indication that you feel as though you have compromised your integrity in some way. Sometimes you may have a dream that you are cheating if you feel as though you are wasting your time or energy on an endeavor that will not pay off in the end. Dreams about cheating on your spouse or significant other can also represent changes in your sexuality. If your sex drive has been increasing having dreams of sexual encounters with people other than your significant other are not uncommon. Dreams about cheating on someone can also be an indication that you feel guilty about something that has occurred in your waking life. Perhaps you have not been as truthful with someone in your life as you feel you should have been.
Sometimes dreams about cheating are an indication that you or your significant other have become bored with your sex life. Perhaps the two of you have fallen into a rut and need a little something different to spice things up. Everyone in a long term relationship has had a dream about cheating or being cheated on at one time or another.
If you are about to get married you should know that it is not at all uncommon to have dreams about cheating in the days before your marriage. You are preparing to make a lifelong commitment to one person so having dreams about sexual encounters with other people before you do should be considered normal. Some people interpret this to mean that you have apprehension about your future spouse or your relationship with them. Others feel that it would be unusual to not have dreams about what might have been before taking such a life changing plunge. Having dreams about cheating on your intended spouse can just be a way for your mind to work through the process of "what if's". These kinds of dreams do not mean that you will cheat on your spouse or that they will cheat on you.
Alternatively, dreaming about cheating at a game can indicate avoidance of certain aspects of your own personality that you are uncomfortable with. Dreams of cheating on a game can also mean that you have feelings of insecurity or inadequacy, or that you are not being honest with yourself about something.
If you dream that one of your friends is being cheated on then it can be an indication that you distrust or dislike their significant other. A dream about a friend who is being cheated on may mean that you feel consciously or subconsciously that they deserve to be treated in a better way. If you have a dream that you are the one the friend’s partner is cheating on your friend with it may simply mean that you feel a lack of attention from your friend, or that you or your friend are not being honest with each other.
If you have dreams about flirting with someone other than your significant other you may be feeling as though you need more intimacy and affection. Perhaps you are feeling a little left out or ignored by your partner. There is also a possibility that it means that you are ready to take a current relationship to the next level.
Please keep in mind that just because you have a dream about cheating or that someone is cheating on you that it might not necessarily be true. Sometimes a dream is just a dream, and it doesn't really mean anything about what is happening in your life. Dreams are very open to interpretation and just because you have a dream it doesn’t have to mean anything significant. Having a dream about cheating or being cheated on one time is probably nothing to worry about. A recurring dream about cheating may have more significance. There may be something in your life that you feel is holding you back or is not paying off for you the way that you think it should. You could feel that you aren’t being as honest as you could with someone in your life or that they aren’t being completely honest with you.
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Is your headache killing you?
Or is your migraine draining the life out of you?
How would you like to permanently get rid of pain in a totally natural way?
No drug or medicine!
No doctor’s visits or operations!
No herbal medicine!
How about doing it by only changing few simple habits.
Let me explain
Actually, first let me tell you something about headaches and migraine.
Opposite to what you have probably heard, all headaches are actually a form of migraine. Headaches and migraine are caused by the same things and therefore the same methods will apply getting rid of “regular headaches” as permanently curing your migraine.
So what causes headaches and migraine?
It may sound complicated but is in fact very simple.
All migraine and headache attacks are triggered by something. There are literally thousands of headache and migraine triggers in your life causing you to get sick.
The migraine triggers can be
The food you eat
Stress or other tense emotions
Pollution around you
Or endless other things in your life
The triggers are so many; there is NO WAY to avoid them all.
But here comes the tricky part
The triggers add up.
And it’s not until they reach sudden level of intensity that you’re hit with a horrible migraine attack.
Think about it like an irritating day. Everything is going against you. Everybody seems to be getting on your nerves, either on purpose or not.
As this irritating day goes on, you get more and more frustrated.
But you don’t say anything. You keep your calm, even if you’re bursting up inside.
Now, in the end of the day all you can think about is getting home and away from everyone. To RELAX!
You didn’t blow off, you didn’t offend anybody and you can be proud of your self for that. But now, you want to be able to relax.
But as you walk up to your house, you cross your neighbor. And he says something very innocent, which normally would only give you slightest irritation (if that)
but today, you let him have it. You tell him and his whole family to go to you know where.
Your triggers finally set you over the limit!
Your migraine triggers work the same way.
One day a stressful situation will give you beaming headache and the next day, it won’t.
Today, you may be able to eat a whole chocolate cake but tomorrow, if other triggers are active, one bite of chocolate may cause you screaming pain.
It all depends on how high your migraine level is.
Just like when one small accident sets you off on a stressful day, a minor migraine trigger may set you off when other bigger are already working in your life.
So what’s going on if you’ve headache on daily basis?
It’s quite simple
Then, you’re loaded with BIG migraine triggers every day. And these triggers will literally kill you if you don’t deal with them.
It’s like having someone nagging at you day out and day in; of course you’re always going to be irritated. The same thing happens if you’ve migraine triggers nagging at you day in and day out.
you’re going to have constant headache!
The only way out is to decrease the migraine triggers in your life to a level, so they won’t set you off into a horrible migraine or headache attack.
And here is the nice part!
Like I said before, there are literally thousands of migraine triggers in your life. Some are big and some are small. But the good news is; you don’t have to get rid of them all!
You only have to get rid of or at least lower the influence of the MAJOR triggers in your life. And you’ll never suffer from migraine again.
Let’s compare this to the irritated day
The two MAJOR irritation triggers may have been an unfair boss and maybe lets say rude telemarketer calling over and over again.
If it hadn’t been for these two MAJOR triggers, the rainy weather, the dry soda machine and the small words from the neighbor wouldn’t have gotten you frustrated.
In the same way, by getting rid of the MAJOR migraine triggers, other triggers won’t be able to reach enough tension to set you off in to a horrible migraine attack.
To learn more about migraine and headache triggers, visit my migraine and headache website at: http://www.migraineandheadacherelief.com
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Click Here for more informationSleep needs
Did you know that newborn babies need 21 hours sleep a day and children from six months to two years of age need at least 12 hours sleep? Sleep deprivation can cause problems for everyone in the family: fractious babies during the day, exhausted mothers and an anxious, stressful atmosphere.
Sleep deprivation
Sleep starvation is a huge problem for today’s parents. A survey of 2,000 new parents and 2,000 people aged 55 to 65 was carried out by Mother and Baby and Yours magazines.
It found today's parents try all kinds of things to get their babies to sleep through the night, including taking the infant into their own bed. In contrast, parents in the 1960s and 1970s tended to say their babies had slept peacefully in their own cots.
Today’s parents
New mothers of young babies reported that, on average, they only have three and a half hours sleep a night, compared to five hours which the older generation said they used to get.
Two thirds of those surveyed said this "sleep starvation" left them feeling bad-tempered, with the same proportion reporting irritation with their partner. Other problems included being tearful, forgetful, depressed, more accident prone or clumsy, unable to function properly, and irritable with their baby.
So what’s different?
In the 60s and 70s roles tended to be more clear-cut. Fathers went to work and earned the money, mothers stayed at home and brought up the family.
Mothers today often feel they are expected to bring up the family and earn money doing something interesting. This situation can create anxiety: family members can often be living miles away from each other, so there’s very little support for the parents.
30-40 years ago you probably had relatives living nearby who could help with babysitting and be there to offer advice generally to calm the situation. I saw a lot of young families while running a homeopathic clinic in Bristol. They rarely had family support nearby. Here in Cornwall it is noticeable that there is more family support, possibly because this is primarily a rural area, strong in traditions.
Vicious circle
Anxiety breeds anxiety. If you’re feeling tense and anxious the chances are that your baby will pick up on this and react in a similar way, so you get caught in a vicious circle. When other family members come home they pick up on it too.
Obviously when you’re getting up several times a night to breast-feed you’re going to feel very tired, but there is a great difference between being tired and tense and tired and relaxed.
The chances are that if you have periods of time when you can relax then your quality of sleep will improve. Your baby will pick up on this and learn to relax as well and your baby’s quality of sleep will improve because of this.
Sometimes a baby can be irritable simply because he or she hasn’t had enough sleep. When a young baby isn’t sleeping at all well it can affect the whole family. Obviously with new born babies disruption is expected but when the problem persists, sometimes for years, the results can be devastating.
Benefits of good sleep
While your baby is sleeping his or her cells are being regenerated, so the quality and amount of sleep is very important in the development of your infant.
Often over-stimulated babies calm themselves by looking away, yawning or sucking on their lips this self-relaxation increases their parasympathetic activity and reduces sympathetic nervous activity.
In plain English the parasympathetic nervous system chills us out and the sympathetic nervous system stresses us out.
The two systems work side by side to create a flow in the system. However, for example, through lack of sleep, this balance gets thrown out and your baby is more stressed out then muscles tense up and blood vessels are constricted.
In this culture, with all its inherent pressures, people's Sympathetic systems very often stay on guard, unable to give in to the softer, more gentle flows of the Parasympathetic system.
If we’re used to being tense we might not even think it a problem if our baby is also tense and, as with adults, a chronic state of tension leads to stress related symptoms and illness.
What can help?
Learning to relax for a start. There are many forms of relaxation. Yoga, meditation, tai chi, pilates these are just a few choices. There may be classes nearby or you could watch a video at home to learn the right moves.
Start early
During pregnancy, especially the final trimester, there can be anxiety about the impending birth. Regular listening to relaxing music to help create a relaxed state during pregnancy can actually help during the birth itself. By the time your baby is born, your body will have learned to relax even more deeply to the music, as a conditioned response.
Mothers-to-be are encouraged to play music to their unborn babies because research has shown babies can respond and be soothed by soft music both before and after birth. According to Dr. Thomas Verny, author or 'The Secret Life of the Unborn Child' your baby can kick in time to music from 25 weeks. The right musical stimulation can enhance development, encourage sucking and promote weight gain in newborn babies as well as help them to be relaxed and calm.
A relaxing day
Imagine the difference you could make to your life by getting into the habit of relaxing through activities like yoga, meditation or listening to calming music every day especially if you set a regular time. It’s worth it.
If you and your baby are more relaxed then sleep is going to be a lot easier. If your baby is spending his or her time in a relaxed and calm state during the later part of the day or around the time you would like him or her to start dropping off, it can only help.
We’re the same if we’ve just been dancing away at a party we’re hardly likely to be in the mood to sleep straight afterwards we’d be buzzing - so why should babies be any different?
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Click Here for more informationThe benefits of a sound sleep is not a state secret. We know how sleep can effect our productivity, our decision making capability, functioning of our brain. According to Ayurveda, people who are most vulnerable to Sleep Disorders have dry hair, suffer hair fall, sensitive digestions, are usually restless, prone to smoking and have DRY SKIN too. In the nutshell, a good night's sleep is essential to good health.
Studies say over 100 million Americans suffer from some form of insomnia. But the good news is, you can easily improve your sleep with better sleep habits. For sound sleep tips, click here.
Also, it has been proved now that some food have the power to affect our sleep. The affects can be positive as well as negative. Some foods cam increase our nervous simulation and prevent us from sleeping. Drinking caffeinated beverages or xanthine in tea before bed time are egample of such foods. Also fizzy drinks and cigarettes have the same effect. Basically, these foods stimualte neurochemicals that perk up the brain. Other major factor responsible for a disturbed sleep is eating a heavy dinner before bedtime. it results in snoring, heavy breathing and reflux esophagitis.
Myth: The most common myth found among mass is, they believe alcohol helps in the sleep. But the fact is, alcohol may initially act as sedative but it interupts normal sleep patterns in the long run.
Now, lets look at the other side of the story. There are certain foods which improve our sleep. These foods are rich in trytophan. Tryptophan is the amino acid that the body uses to make serotonin, the neurotransmitter that slows down nerve traffic and lulls us into restful sleep. Eating carbohydrates rich in trytophan makes this calming amino acid more available to brain.
Foods containing trytophan that aid sleep are
. Milk
. Cheese
. Curd
. Potato
. Wheat
. Seafood
. Beans
. Sesame seeds
. Oatmeal
. Apricots
. Bananas
Tip: Avoid eating junk food and highly refined food at night because fibre-rich food increases serotonin availability, but processed carbs over stimulates insulin, which leads to disturbed sleep.
Other Bed time snacks can include:
. Whole grain cereal with milk
. Ice-cream
. Seasame seeds
. Oatmeal or rasin cookies
Tip: Lighter meals are more likely to give you a good night's sleep.
Vilnius is the capital city of the Republic of Lithuania. This wonderful city is situated just 20 kilometers south of the geographical center of Europe, and its strategic location makes it a commercial and transportation hub in the region. Although it is widely considered an eastern European country, Vilnius is actually located in the central part of Europe. In fact, there is a nearby monument called the “Geographical Center of Europe” that you can visit by joining a sightseeing tour or driving a rented car.
History of Vilnius
The exact date of the founding of Vilnius is unknown, but the city was mentioned for the first time in 1323, in the letters of the Gediminas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania. By the year 1387, Vilnius was already governed by the Magdeburg Law, a set of town laws that was considered very modern at that time. The first university in the city, Vilnius University, was established by Steponas Batoras in 1579, and it is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in Europe. In 1610, a huge fire that was comparable in magnitude to the Great Fire of London broke out in Vilnius, causing damage to a large part of the city. Vilnius was occupied by Polish soldiers in 1920, and it remained a Polish city for 19 years. During World War II, the Russians took control of Lithuania and occupied it for several decades. Lithuania gained independence in 1990 after representatives from the intelligentsia group called Sajudis won the election to the Lithuanian legislature.
Vilnius as a Travel Destination
Vilnius is one of the best cities to visit in central Europe. It has a rich cultural and historical heritage, fascinating attractions, and very friendly people, as well as all the necessary amenities to make your vacation a very pleasant experience. Here are some of the most popular places of interest in Vilnius:
Gediminas Castle
Completed in 1409, the Gediminas Castle is the symbol of the founding of Vilnius. According to legend, the Grand Duke Gediminas was hunting in the area around the castle, and he fell asleep and dreamed about an iron wolf. Unsure about the meaning of the dream, he consulted his oracle, and he was told that he should build a city at the site. Most parts of the castle are in ruins, and all that remains today is a tower. The tower houses archaeological findings from the surrounding areas.
TV Tower
Reaching to a height of 326 meters, the TV Tower is the highest manmade structure in Lithuania. It was constructed in 1974 and began operating in 1981. You will find a revolving café in the tower that offers a spectacular view of the city.
The Three Crosses Memorial
The Three Crosses Memorial stands as a tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Lithuanians who fought against the Soviets. It was constructed in 1916, destroyed by the Soviets in 1950, and restored in 1989.
Ausra’s Gates
The Ausra’s Gates were initially a part of a defensive wall surrounding the city of Vilnius. Today, there are only 10 gates and a three-floor chapel left. While visiting this attraction, you will see a beautiful painting of the Mother of God, who is believed to possess healing powers.
Churches
Vilnius is also known for its rich religious heritage, and it is home to many historically-significant churches. Some of the churches that you should visit include The Cathedral of Vilnius, Bernardine Church, St. Ann’s Church, St. Peter and Paul’s Church, and St. Kotryna’s Church. There are altogether about 40 churches that are worth visiting in the city.
Museums
If you want to learn more about the history and culture of Lithuanians, it is recommended that you include a few museums in your travel itinerary. Popular museums in Vilnius include the National Museum of Lithuania; Lithuanian Art Museum; Lithuanian Theater, Music, and Film Museum; Museum of Applied Art; Radvilos Palace; Museum of Genocide Victims; Europos Parkas Museum; and Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum.
Parks
If you want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life, you can go for a stroll in one of the many beautiful parks in Vilnius. There are a number of parks that are located right in the center of the city, and they are the Vingio Park, Kalnu Park, Sereikiskiu Park, Verkiai Regional Park, and the Botanical Garden of Vilnius University.
Night Clubs and Bars
Similar to most other European cities, Vilnius also has a vibrant night scene. Whether you want to let loose on the dance floor or just have a few drinks with your friends, you will have no trouble finding a suitable place. Some of the top night spots in the city include the Havana Social Club, Prospekto Pub, Woo, Old Town Strip Club, and Men’s Factory.
Getting Around in Vilnius
Getting around in Vilnius is very easy. There are several kinds of public transportation for you to choose from, and they include buses, trolley buses, subway, and taxis. Most of the local residents prefer to take buses or trolley buses, because these are the most cost-effective ways to travel. There are basically two kinds of buses, namely, municipal buses and private buses. The prices charged by both kinds of buses are almost the same. Tickets purchased at a newsstand or kiosk cost 2 litas ($0.80) for adults and $1 litas ($0.40) for children, and those that are bought on the bus cost 2.5 litas for adults and 1.25 litas for children. If you are planning to travel by buses or minibuses a lot, you can save some money by getting a Vilnius city card.
Hotels
Vilnius has many different kinds of hotels, ranging from budget hotels to luxury hotels, and you can easily find one that suits your preferences and needs. Recommended hotels include the Barbacan Palace Hotel, Apia Hotel, Amicus Hotel, Naujasis Vilnius Hotel, and Vingriai.
Car Rentals
If you want to rent a car while you are in Vilnius, you can get excellent deals from Neo Rent, Autobanga, EuropCar, and Busikas.
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