riverview | Fourth (lack of) sleep note. Video, at a normal time of day.

[Alex looks pretty much like crap. She's got multiple mugs in front of her, and she's sitting at her desk at work. There's dark circles under her eyes, and she's definitely missing some of her normal spark.]

Okay, so the worst thing about being a kid for a few days is that you get to sleep like a kid for a few days. Which was pretty amazing. But now it's just making this whole lack of sleep thing all the more pronounced and I'm definitely not loving this.

So, I'm opening the floor for suggestions. Back home, I actually have a sleep specialist, but honestly she's not all that helpful. I do all the things I'm supposed to: no electronics for two hours before bedtime, progressive muscle relaxation, the "the" game, pot... Basically you name it and I've tried it.

[Alex is going to shrug and not actually list all the things she's tried because well, open channel and all that. But she actually has tried basically everything she can get her hands on, including medication.]

But my world is limited in what it has, so I'm willing to try basically anything within reason at this point. Sleep potions? Spells? Weird tech? Whatever. I have just got to get some sleep, and they don't really have Casper mattresses here. [That's a joke and comes with a thin smile. Casper mattresses are something that her insomniac self plugs on her show all the time.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah, it's not a new thing since I've been here. I've been having it for more than two years now. Which is why the sleep therapist. And yeah, I tend to work through it, but I also know that I can't do it forever.

I don't really have one? I mean I've not gotten sick or injured since I've been here or anything.

I just didn't want to prescribe medication without knowing what you're already taking.

If we were in Storybrooke, I could refer you to Doctor Hopper for the therapy, but I don't really know who to suggest to you here.

Yeah, right now I'm not taking anything but back home I did the gambit of sleeping pills. Nothing really worked.

Dr. Bernier, she was my sleep therapist, she did normal therapy stuff too. It didn't help.

All right. We'll scratch that. How about you come in for an appointment?

Okay, Doctor. When do you have time?

I'd like to do a full physical, so I'll book you for the morning. How's that?

That sounds fine. I can take the morning off with no problem.

Would you prefer me caffeinated or decaffeinated?

Decaf, if you don't mind. We're going to do a full physical. And I know sleep is the reason you're coming in, but try it anyway and keep a note of how long you sleep if you can do it at all.

We'll discuss your past sleeping patterns when you come in.

I can do decaf, I may be a little slow but I can definitely do it! And I do keep a sleep log that's basically a habit at this point. I've got it in a gdoc on my phone.

See, at this point I'm practically a professional insomenac.

I never bothered with a sleep journal, personally. But that's good. Bring it in with you.

She kind of insisted upon it honestly. I would record audio and then transcribe it into a written form for her so I have both if you'd like. Reading is probably better than listening, though.

No, go ahead and bring the audio, too. I'd like as much data as I can.

[Oh, Victor you don't know what you do.]

Okay. I should warn you though, I have some graphic nightmares.

Right, well... As you know, I'm no stranger to nightmares. My world is known for them.

Yeah, I know. I just wanted to give you some warning. I've had a few complaints from some listeners about them before.

Hm. Well, now I'm really curious.

Trigger warning for demons, hanging bodies and animal death, I guess.

Not that you have to answer, but are these actual things you've witnessed in your life?

Yes, on video about the demons, they're a huge part of my show at this point. Yes about the body, a friend and I discovered it and animal death was just a really, really really bad nightmare.

I'm not a psychologist, but the brain does often play back events and memories from your life when you sleep. I've experienced dreams like that myself.

Maybe you should try to find a therapist here. I can give you whatever drugs you want, but those memories and thoughts will still be there when the drug wears off.

I was having therapy with Dr. Beiner. But it's hard to talk about this sort of thing without seeming like you're completely insane, you know? Demons and murders and the end of the world.... That's the sort of thing that would end with you being locked up somewhere.

Spooky mental hospitals are definitely some of my least favorite places in the world.

Heh. I guess we were pretty lucky to have Doctor Hopper. If I get a chance, I'll have to thank him.

Sounds like it. Though I have to ask who he was back home.

Jiminy Cricket, of course. Who better than a conscience to help you with your problems?

[Alex is just going to grin.]

I guess that depends on your problems, huh?
.
[Bad joke ahoy.]

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