Listening to calming CDs of music often helps me to switch off the busy part of my mind and I fall asleep around the 3rd or 4th track without knowing I've done that. I don't know whether that's because music was the only good part of my childhood - violent parent expressing his emotions elsewhere - or because "listening profoundly" switches off thinking - or because music is a beautiful gift in a tough life .

When I really can't sleep - at all - happens twice or three times a year - I fight doctors until they give me medication.