Pros: A solid alternative from sleeping pills to help you better fall asleep.
Cons: You have to stick with it and allow yourself to be overtaken by the sounds.
The Bottom Line: Insomniacs Rejoice! Once you allow yourself to be taken over by the sleepy ocean sounds, this CD may very well help you get those much needed zzzzzzzzs.
jackai's Full Review: Sleepy Ocean: With Delta Brainwave Pulses [Digipak...
After struggling for years with a moderate case of insomnia and realizing warm milk and lavender scented eye pillows can only go so far, I resorted increasingly to over-the-counter sleeping pills. Unfortunately, waking up in a zombified fog was the all too common side effect I never cared for. But as I get older and presumably wiser, I appreciate the idea of better living through less chemistry. Trust me, I'll still pop a Tylenol or two when my head feels like it's splitting open, but I just don't want to take drugs at every turn.
Dr. Jeffrey Thompson offers a wide selection of sleep and relaxation CDs. According to the back cover literature, our brains emit various brainwaves or pulses during different stages of consciousness and activity. In a deep state of sleep our brainwaves emanate low frequency delta wave pulses, and Dr. Thompson's 25 years of research has found a way to thread these inaudible brainwave pulses into various recorded nature sounds, with the idea that the listener locks onto the embedded delta waves, helping the individual relax and eventually fall into a deep, restful sleep. It sounds a bit like hypnosis through science and I have to admit I was intrigued.
I'm also a sucker for packaging and the jacket for the "Sleepy Ocean" CD practically screams peace and calm. The cover welcomes you with a glowing crescent moon presiding over a lavender night sky. Below, a field of dark purple ocean waves topped with frothy white caps complete this Rousseau-inspired artwork. I bought the "Sleepy Rain" and "Sleepy Ocean" CDs and ripped them into my iPod, ready to be played for my nightly sleep ritual. The following are my main impressions of the "Sleepy Ocean" CD over the course of ten nights; however, my observations about "Sleepy Rain" are also interspersed throughout this brief journal.
Night One I was tired, but not enough to go to bed just yet. Since I had work the next morning, I decided to push myself to retire. I put the playlist on random shuffle and started with the "Sleepy Rain" CD. The volume was very low, almost inaudible. I was asleep fairly quickly, so to be honest, I slept right through "Sleepy Ocean" and didn't get to hear it, at least not at any conscious level. It may sound odd, but if I was asleep, it means the CD did its job keeping me asleep.
Night Two I'm slightly wired as I had an altercation with a neighbor just a few hours before. This time, I play "Sleepy Ocean" first, and I try to breathe easily, the sound of the ocean is very calming. The entire CD consists of an hour-long track of Pacific Ocean surf repeatedly crashing onto shore; there are no other extraneous noises like crickets or thunder - just a rhythmic ebb and flow of sound. I'm asleep fairly quickly and with the exception of my cat pawing at my shoulder at 4am, I'm pretty knocked out and wake up well rested next morning.
I'm liking this CD, but I'm still skeptical and I wonder if the novelty of this product spurs an unconscious desire to make it successful.
Night Three It's hovering close to 1am and I can't go to sleep. I have to force myself to go to bed. And I start with "Sleepy Rain" as it's a quieter soundscape than the slightly more thundering "Sleepy Ocean". I have to increase the volume to hear the soft plinks of rain. It takes me a full half hour to calm down, but I'm asleep. Into minute twenty one of "Sleepy Ocean", I wake up. The volume is too high for the blaring clap of the swooshing tide. I adjust the volume and fall back asleep surprisingly quickly. Damn cat paws at my nose at 3:37am. I wake up to silence as both tracks have played through. I place the cat in the basement.
Nights Four and Five I'm dead to the world. I'm tired and don't need to play the CD tonight. At 4am, like clockwork, the cat ferrets her wet nose about my face. I swat her away, but she manages the ultimate requital. Minutes later, I awaken to a raspy tongue furtively licking my eyelid. I get up, put her in the basement and go back to bed.
Nights Six and Seven I need sleep. This time, before I retire, I put the cat in the basement with food and water. I start with "Sleepy Ocean". I'm tossing and turning, resisting the dulcet ocean sprays. Within 30 minutes, I calm down, try to regulate my breathing and eventually fall asleep. I wake up at 4am anticipating my cat's anus splayed somewhere over my god forsaken face. "Oh, that's right, I put her downstairs". I go back to sleep and wake up fairly well rested the next morning, rejuvenated even. Note: I still haven't heard the entire hour-long CD. Each night within 25 - 35 minutes, I'm fast asleep.
Night Eight I'm getting the cat into the habit of retiring to the basement. She meows for her master. I drown her out with "Sleepy Ocean". I'm asleep within roughly twenty five minutes. My body clock still likes to wake up at 4am, no matter what. By then, the playlist has already played through, but luckily, I can fall back asleep without commencing the tracks again.
Nights Nine and Ten Cat's in the basement again (with food, water and litter box, as always). I alternate each night with "Sleepy Rain" and "Sleepy Ocean". I fall asleep faster to "Sleepy Rain", but thus far I like very much what both CDs have done for my sleep regimen.
Since owning "Sleepy Ocean" for about a month, I've only had to resort to a sleeping pill once - a major improvement from my past usage. As for tips, just keep the volume fairly low for "Sleepy Ocean" and really allow yourself to listen to the sounds. It also helps to turn your mind off to other distractions and thoughts. Also, I've recently begun going to the gym for moderate to very intense workouts. Combining an exercise regimen during the day and playing this CD at night only magnifies your chances for a good night's sleep.
Although this review is all anecdotal observation, Dr. Thompson has engaged in actual clinical research with thousands of patients. I haven't read the details of the study or his specific findings beyond the CD back cover, which is why I don't want to immediately proclaim this CD will absolutely work for everyone. Results could vary from person to person. I only have occasional to moderate insomnia and individuals who suffer from a severe case, may or may not benefit from this CD. Speaking from my own experience, however, it wouldn't hurt to try this more natural method to falling asleep. "Sleepy Ocean" as well as all of Thompson's nature sound collections are recorded in 3-D sound and can be played with any set of headphones or speakers. If you want to know more about Jeffrey Thompson's collection of sleep, relaxation and meditation CDs, go to http://www.therelaxationcompany.com.
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