Woman with Insomnia Eight years ago, doctors had confirmed that Clara Zorkina had no chances of survival. Unfortunately, the foetus inside Clara had died and begun to decompose, and the doctors would have removed it, only if Clara had sought help earlier. It was too late and she was coming around with much difficulty after being struck by lightening after which she had lost all consciousness.

But a miracle occurred and Clara managed to pull through. However, till today she is unable to sleep. “Sometimes in a week, I switch off for just two hours,” she says. “Tiredness catches me unawares; I fall over, barely able to make it to the bed, it’s as though I disappear somewhere. When that happens, it’s impossible to lift me.”

Clara has otherwise been inclined to sleep a lot and at 43, she has worked as a dairymaid for almost 20 years on a farm. She went to bed late and got up by 4 a.m. for the morning milking, so she has been able to bear such a long vigil easily. Clara doesn’t feel tired, hence she hasn’t visited a doctor for her problem.

According to psychotherapist doctor Vladislav Sudarev, this is one of those rare cases where sleep rhythm is broken. Such cases have existed throughout history. Travelers crossed the sea in small boats and did not sleep for two months – they couldn’t, there were storms and the boats were in danger of capsizing, people would have died. Even before setting out to sea, with the help of special training, they became used to entering a special state between sleep and wakefulness, for approximately ten minutes out of every hour. During these periods, areas of the brain responsible for perceiving danger did not switch off. This state could not be called sleep, but people felt lively. They could even keep there eyes open and stand.

Hence Clara’s ability to fall into a trance allows her to rest and relax. Very often insomnia occurs because of nerves, but there are cases, where it is due to hormones or a breach of blood circulation. Insomnia could also occur due to trauma.

Dale Carnegie, a famous American Psychologist recommends not to worry about insomnia, but to use it to one’s benefit. During the day, Clara works in the kitchen, garden and around the house. When night falls and her husband and son go to bed, she switches on the table-lamp and reads books on alternative medicine. Insomnia doesn’t bother her and she has grown to accept it and like it.

Some interesting facts for you guys on the sleeping habits by famous persons:
Leonardo da Vinci took 15 minute naps every four hours.
Mother Theresa could go for four days running without sleeping.
Albert Einstein is known for having been one of the longest sleeping genius’: Under the influence of Morphine, he would sleep for 11 hours!