Okay, sooooooo I got a whole constellation of new piercings – ten on my right ear and a couple on my left, all in the span of three days!
That's quite the statement, I know, I know! But as any side-sleeper knows, fresh ear piercings and pressure aren't exactly a match made in heaven, especially when nap time or a full night's sleep rolls around.
I was tossing and turning a bit, trying to find a comfortable position without squishing those tender ears.
Then, genius struck! I looked around my room and my trusty airplane neck pillow caught my eye. It was like a little "aha!" moment.
For those initial healing weeks, that travel pillow became my nighttime savior. I'd carefully nestle either my right or left ear right into that U-shaped neck hole. It worked perfectly, cradling my head just enough to keep the pressure off my newly adorned ear, which must have been a huge relief.
Being able to comfortably lie on my side again, my preferred sleeping position, was probably a game-changer for getting restful sleep.
Now, I mentioned being a side-sleeper who actively avoids sleeping on my back due to a fear of sleep paralysis.
Sleep paralysis is a temporary inability to move or speak that occurs when you're waking up or falling asleep. During this episode, you are aware of your surroundings, but your body remains in the relaxed, paralyzed state that normally happens during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.
It can often be accompanied by vivid and sometimes frightening hallucinations or a sense of pressure on the chest. These episodes are usually brief, lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes. While the exact cause isn't fully understood, factors like sleep deprivation, stress, irregular sleep schedules, and certain medical conditions can increase the likelihood of experiencing it.
For someone who has experienced it or is anxious about it, the thought of being in that vulnerable, immobile state while conscious can be understandably unsettling, hence my preference for side-sleeping.
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