Can't sleep

[Guest_00092208]

Not quite midnight yet. Though I am going into 48hrs plus awake. Having some physical/psychological issues which ate plaguing my ability to relax. Anyone else awake?

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Guest_0092208,

I’m so sorry you have been having trouble sleeping, by what sounds to me as an overactive troubled mind….(sorry if I read wrong)..

When the night is quiet my mind/thoughts are at their most active..especially when I lay down to sleep….While in a mental health hospital, I was introduced to sleep stories, (they are on YouTube)…when I now are ready to sleep I’ll put one one and listen to the peaceful places a gentle voice takes me too….I was told that our brain can only think of one thing at a time, by putting my full concentration on to the story I’m listening to, I mostly fall asleep before the story ends….I always tell myself I’ll try anything for a peaceful mind…maybe sleep stories is something that you could try, if you feel to…

We do have a great thread on “sleep”..search “Sleep” in the search engine it’s written by Doolholf….members talk about strategies as well as their struggles with sleep…and what’s what works for them….please feel free to add to the conversation if you feel up to…hopefully you’ll find it both interesting and helpful for you…

Please talk here anytime you feel up to it,

My kind thoughts,

Grandy..

[ABC01]

Good evening,

 I can empathise with my brain not winding down and finding sleep elusive. Especially anxiety cycles or nerves for something coming up.

 I invested in a sleep sound machine to incorporate into a nighttime pre-sleep routine.

The only reason I mention it is because mine incorporates Delta, Alpha and Beta brainwaves sounds, that are supposed to coax your brain to match these frequencies and enter healthy states of sleep or relaxation. Each brainwave is targeted for a different sleep cycle.Also the standard white noise, thunderstorms,crickets, streams and waves come with it too. However I find the brainwave selections far better to go off to sleep. These sound systems have timers on them and they gradually fade out to silence as you sleep. It took awhile to get used to it and sometimes what helped me sleep the night before, didn’t that next night. But I have had mine for over 10 years and buy them for baby showers and gifts, as I do love the ease of using it, the way the sound is only in my room and the que that it gives to my mind that it is time to sleep.

 I can never sleep if I am not at a good temperature. So find your zone. And perhaps switching to decaf tea and coffee and staying away from high sugar foods and drink may help to initially get back to sleep.

 I have never walked in your shoes,in being awake that long. So I truly hope you get some sleep soon.

ABC01

[Eagle Ray]

Hello dear Guest,

I thought I would share what helps me. I have found putting on a podcast on my phone just after getting into bed really helps, so similar to the sleep stories Grandy mentions. I choose a podcast on a topic I’m interested in and with gentle, kind voices that I like listening to and sound comforting. I was having a lot of trouble sleeping for a long time and had a lot of anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation and I found this really helps me. Time and time again it lulls me into sleep. I stop taking in the words of the podcast as my brain waves change and then before long I’m asleep. I think there is comfort in hearing human voices and I feel like I have safe, warm, friendly company.

I hope you are doing ok and have had some reasonable sleep since your post on Monday. Take good care 🤗

[BlueLily]

Hi Guest_0092208,

Sorry to hear you are going through sleepless nights.

I've also sadly experienced this when I was going though difficult phases in my life. I will share some tips that helped myself. It might feel like everybody is throwing tips and suggestions at you but believe me you may slowly need to try few different things and I'm sure in no time you will find the trick that works for you and you will be dreaming!

I tried to stick to a routine, such as going to bed at a certain time everyday, putting phone to sleep mode and read a book with a bed lamp (rather than a bright light). Even if I don't fall sleep I wouldn't get up or pick up the phone. Because as I'm laying on bed at least I'm giving my body a rest.

Also I've found doing something active such as running or walking during the day makes you pretty tired by night helping you sleep. Also doing the most boring thing when it's close to bed time such as some work or study a boring material puts you to sleep naturally.

I hope you find what works for you among these posts.