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re: Trying to sleep, but thoughts running through your head
Posted on 4/4/14 at 7:47 am to baybeefeetz
Posted on 4/4/14 at 7:47 am to baybeefeetz
quote:
Learn to meditate and you will learn to shite it off. Fact.
This.
Learn how to shut off your brain on your own without medicine. If it gets unbearable, THEN move on to pills. But going straight to pills takes out the "work" per se.
Go to rainymood.com with some headphones on and don't move for about 10-15 minutes. Focus on your breathing and just listen to the rain. It'll calm you down and you'll learn how to shut your mind off by deep breathing and focusing on something else.
If that doesn't work, try a guided meditation. And if that doesn't work I guess you can resort to pills...
1
Posted on 4/4/14 at 7:47 am to madamsquirrel
quote:
Floor needs to be vacuumed and laundry needs to be folded. OCD sucks.
It's not OCD if the floor needs to be vacuumed and the clothes need to be folded and put in a dresser. Its OCD when you have already vacuumed the floor 3 times in a row and still think it is dirty, when the vacuum is functioning correctly or when you continuously refold the clothes because they don't look right on the corners.
Of course you may have OCD but you are not describing it, you are describing problems with time management.
Posted on 4/4/14 at 7:53 am to bapple
quote:
Learn how to shut off your brain on your own without medicine.
this. look up 'mindfulness exercises'. it will seem like a bunch of bs, but do it anyway. other factors for me included: cutting back on caffeine consumption (i've been an all day coffee drinker for >10 yrs), getting regular exercise & cutting back on alcohol consumption. also getting to bed on time is significant.
ETA: another thing that helped me in the past was not laying in bed for more than 30 minutes. if i'm not asleep in 30 mins, i'll get up and move to the couch or another bed in the house. if i move more than twice, i get up and clean the house or do chores for 20-30 mins & then get in bed again. i think changing what you're doing helps break up your thought patterns.
This post was edited on 4/4/14 at 7:58 am
Posted on 4/4/14 at 7:53 am to Winkface
Used to struggle with this.
It's a manifestation of stress.
For me, walk, stretch, shower, L tryptophan and a whole foods restful sleep tablet and I'm out in 10.
Also, being serious, sit in a quiet room and work on just slowing things down in your brain. Sit still and clear your mind. You won't be able to make it more than a minute or two before you start thinking about something but over time you'll build up. I'm up to about 20 minutes now. Amazing how much more relaxed I feel.
It's a manifestation of stress.
For me, walk, stretch, shower, L tryptophan and a whole foods restful sleep tablet and I'm out in 10.
Also, being serious, sit in a quiet room and work on just slowing things down in your brain. Sit still and clear your mind. You won't be able to make it more than a minute or two before you start thinking about something but over time you'll build up. I'm up to about 20 minutes now. Amazing how much more relaxed I feel.
Posted on 4/4/14 at 8:01 am to jimbeam
quote:
I'm assuming everyone gets this.
I don't. On a normal day I'm in bed by 10:30-11:00 and sound asleep shortly thereafter.
Posted on 4/4/14 at 8:02 am to jimbeam
I am having this right now, probably because I am looking for a new job and I can't seem to have a relaxed mental attitude about all of it.
No joke, if you are religious at all. Just pray, if you concentrate on your prayer you will doze right off into a nice sleep. At first I didn't feel like this was right but a couple months ago the pastor was talking about praying before he goes to bed and he said it never fails, he will fall asleep before his prayer is complete.
I know it's not the typical OT answer but give it a try.
No joke, if you are religious at all. Just pray, if you concentrate on your prayer you will doze right off into a nice sleep. At first I didn't feel like this was right but a couple months ago the pastor was talking about praying before he goes to bed and he said it never fails, he will fall asleep before his prayer is complete.
I know it's not the typical OT answer but give it a try.
Posted on 4/4/14 at 8:09 am to Mulat
If you walked in my house you would not say the floor needs to be vacuumed. 
And that is why I was awake. I chose to spend time with my husband instead of folding laundry and it woke me up because it was on my mind. Now it will be folded neatly and placed in the drawers by color. Clothes are hung by type/color/season.
The compulsion to do it is what woke me up and I have to FIGHT with myself to not get up and vacuum in the middle of the night. I try to respect hubs sleep but when I was single I would often do middle of the night cleaning if I forgot something. He has also woken up to me crying over things that were undone. Or flying out of bed as soon as his alarm goes off to do something or clean something.
And that is why I was awake. I chose to spend time with my husband instead of folding laundry and it woke me up because it was on my mind. Now it will be folded neatly and placed in the drawers by color. Clothes are hung by type/color/season.
The compulsion to do it is what woke me up and I have to FIGHT with myself to not get up and vacuum in the middle of the night. I try to respect hubs sleep but when I was single I would often do middle of the night cleaning if I forgot something. He has also woken up to me crying over things that were undone. Or flying out of bed as soon as his alarm goes off to do something or clean something.
Posted on 4/4/14 at 8:11 am to jimbeam
Could be stress but if it persist get checked out for Anxiety Disorder. Some of the post here show classic symptoms.
Here is a technique the military teaches, get comfortable (I like to read), and focus on your breathing. It sounds goofy but by focusing on your breathing it takes your focus off your racing brain, it works.
Here is a technique the military teaches, get comfortable (I like to read), and focus on your breathing. It sounds goofy but by focusing on your breathing it takes your focus off your racing brain, it works.
Posted on 4/4/14 at 8:14 am to jimbeam
Sounds like you have anxiety or you don't use enough energy during the day to wear you out.
Posted on 4/4/14 at 8:17 am to JimMorrison
"I've got a headfull of ideas that are driving me insane"
-Bob Dylan "Maggie's Farm"
-Bob Dylan "Maggie's Farm"
Posted on 4/4/14 at 8:17 am to Lakeboy7
quote:
get comfortable (I like to read),
I'm a staunch believer that your bed should only be reserved for sleeping and sex.
No reading/watching TV because your brain will not associate your bed with sleep which leads to the falling asleep problems.
Posted on 4/4/14 at 8:19 am to madamsquirrel
quote:
The compulsion to do it is what woke me up and I have to FIGHT with myself to not get up and vacuum in the middle of the night.
Yes it is when the compulsion is as you describe begins to drive you in some fashion, it is a good idea to speak with a professional. There could be several different issues, having someone who knows how to narrow the issues can save a lot of time and grief. Certainly sounds difficult to me.
Posted on 4/4/14 at 8:21 am to jimbeam
I've always had issues with this. Can't fall asleep because my mind is racing. I've come up with ways to cope...one thing I like doing is kind of like meditating I guess. For example, I picture myself on an island, relaxing in the sun with not a care in the world. Basically, I try to distract my thoughts with relaxing imagery and it usually does the trick. Music can also help, but the ear buds annoy me when I'm trying to get comfy. 
I remember when it first started happening, and I would be stressed out about not being able to fall asleep, which would add to the anxiety and further keep me from falling asleep. The never-ending cycle
I remember when it first started happening, and I would be stressed out about not being able to fall asleep, which would add to the anxiety and further keep me from falling asleep. The never-ending cycle
Posted on 4/4/14 at 8:48 am to When in Rome
You need xanax. Go see a doctor
Posted on 4/4/14 at 8:49 am to Mulat
quote:
What is interesting is so far on the thread only one person has vaguely mentioned specifically what keeps them awake "things I have done in the past" but no specifics.
When you are ready to talk specifics, what is actually on your mind, see a professional.
Well not everyone has a specific set of thoughts. Mine is a side effect of medication, so I got prescribed something to help counteract and help me sleep.
It is frustrating because I wish I could go back to sleeping normal and taking zero medications, but that just isn't the case right now.
Posted on 4/4/14 at 8:56 am to JimMorrison
quote:
You need xanax
benzodiazepines, xanax, valium, librium, a whole group of medicines that end in "pam" only work for a short period of time before the need to increase the dosage occurs and it is an ongoing cycle. They are good for a brief, brief period of time but not an ongoing solution.
Posted on 4/4/14 at 8:58 am to jimbeam
Sleep is way over rated.
Posted on 4/4/14 at 9:18 am to JimMorrison
No thanks. I don't want to depend on medicine if I don't have to.
Posted on 4/4/14 at 9:22 am to HeadyBrosevelt
quote:
-Bob Dylan "Maggie's Farm
that's a Bob Dylan song?
and here I thought it was just another RATM song
Posted on 4/4/14 at 9:32 am to When in Rome
You complained about stressing out when you can't fall asleep
How do you get stressed out about an activity where you're supposed to be the most relaxed? You seem to be really high strung if that's a problem for you. Dunno, though. It would suck to lie awake in bed for hours every night.
How do you get stressed out about an activity where you're supposed to be the most relaxed? You seem to be really high strung if that's a problem for you. Dunno, though. It would suck to lie awake in bed for hours every night.
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