Calling All Insomniacs

Why can't I sleep?

Have you ever asked yourself this question? Alan Berliner, documentary filmmaker extraordinaire, explores this question in his film entitled "Wide Awake", which I just watched yesterday from Netflix. In my opinion, he can't sleep because he's wound up extremely tightly with constant worry and he's absolutely obsessive-compulsive. This becomes obvious when he presents his "library" of photos, artifacts, vintage film and audio clips, and newspaper clippings. I'm not denouncing what he does - I found it completely fascinating. And also he's an extremely likeable guy with a huge heart; you can tell that in all the scenes of him discussing his insomnia with his mom, wife, and sister. I highly recommend this documentary, particularly if you have ever found that you're more highly productive during the wee hours of the night than during the day (which I have on many occasions, especially when I was back in residency). The really interesting thing is that Alan is not a coffee drinker; in fact, he does not regularly ingest any caffeine-containing foods. In the scene in which he does experiment with coffee, he transforms into a completely different person. People really underestimate the power of caffeine. It really is a pretty potent drug. I've experienced almost a sense of euphoria after drinking a really strong cup of coffee, especially when it's been a fews days since I've had a cup. Music, especially, sounds better. Maybe that's why many musicians have been addicted to harder stimulants - for inspiration. Anyway, check out this flick - watch at it at about 2:30 in the morning for maximum effect.