SLEEP

[Doolhof]

Hi All,

In the past there may have been threads on sleep and how to improve our quality of sleep.

I am starting this thread up and hope to include past thread titles.

For some of us sleep is a real issue, the more we can learn about it the better informed we will be.

Funny stories on weird places you have fallen asleep are welcome as well.

For me, I had just moved house and was very busy getting everything organised. Friends invited me to the drag races. I was so tired and exhausted that I sat down, leant against the fence right near the starting line and fell asleep for most of the evening.

Hope to read some of your stories and tips.

Cheerio for now, from Mrs. Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi Chloe, Tams and All,

Without going back myself and re-reading this thread, I am not sure all that has been written here.

Having minds that over think and don't want to shut off when we desire to be sleeping can certainly be a problem.

I mentioned to Grand that I sometimes find it helpful to write stuff down and hour or so before I plan to go to bed, that way I have all of that stuff out of my head and can then not think so much.

Tams, maybe you can set yourself a time limit for how long you do think in bed. Set the alarm for 1/2 an hour or what ever, once the time is up, that is it. Tell your mind you will listen to it again in the morning and find ways to switch off.

If your minds do continue to tick on, maybe having a note pad next to the bed to write down what you remember you need to do the next day or what your brain tells you needs to be thought about, write it down and tell yourself you will do that tomorrow.

Sometimes we need to try different things to see what helps!

Cheers and sweet dreams! From Dools

[demonblaster]

Hey Dools and all 😊

Just tagging if I havent already

Great thread topic Doolsy 🤗

[blondguy]

Hey Dools and DB 🙂

I am a huge fan of this thread!

• Turn off the cell phone....its only anticipating a call that may not happen even when we sleep...
• Eat early and sleep well...Eat late and stay awake
• If possible resolve (or try to) any simple personal/family issues to build a foundation for a quality sleep

Great thread Dools

Paul 🙂

[Ggrand]

Hello Everyone,

I agree Paul that turning of the cell phone is a good idea as well as not playing internet games on computer or iPad at least an hour before bed..

Another thing that stops sleep from coming is worrying/anxiety I have emptied my head of my concerns into my sleep journal.. Last night but moreso tonight I have emptied my thoughts but my worries/anxieties are to deep and constant to shush them up again..

I have meditated and now playing loudish music through my earphones, but still the worring/anxiety and thoughts will not stop... it's now past midnight..another restless/sleepless night...I drink chamomile before bed most nights, is there another herbal tea that helps with worry/anxiety and can calm me as well as make me sleepy..

How do you control worry/anxiety before sleep..

Grandy..

[Doolhof]

Hi Grandy and Everyone,

Grandy can you find something to do that over powers those thoughts and anxiety? Sometimes I do a Sudoku puzzle as I can't do those and concentrate on what my mind is telling me at the same time. Or I fgind a book to read that will keep my interest.

You mentioned already that you write stuff down, it is a bother when the mind just won't shut up!

Maybe you could try a game of naming flowers from A to Z, add in countries, boy's names, girl's names, animals, foods etc.

I have also been told that if I find I can not sleep, then it is best to get up and do something like read or a puzzle and return to bed when you are feeling tired.

Apparently some "Experts" suggest staying in bed and resting is not all that good for you if you can't sleep. If I was to get up at 2.00 a.m. when I couldn't sleep I am sometimes still up when the sun comes up, so I am not sure about that advice.

Grandy if you have a health shop near you ask them about herbal remedies, or at the chemist.

Not sleeping well really can be bothersome.

My husband was snoring so loudly on the weekend while we were away I tried to sleep in the car! Had no sleep there either at least it was quieter!

Cheers from Dools

[Tams20]

Hi everyone,

My meds have got my racing thoughts under control at night, the only thing I have left to sort out is my 3yo that comes into our bed in the middle of the night and attaches himself to me, then proceeds to fidget for the next few hours.... arrghh!!

Tams

[Guest_2658]

Hi there,

I have had anxiety all my life. Obviously it’s at its worst when things go wrong. However I’ve always been able to sleep. That is until 3 years ago.

somehing went wrong in my life (divorce) but this time my sleep also went.

What was different this time? Well the only thing different was that I was practicing mindfulness in the 12 months leading up to the divorce.

has anyone else been having second thoughts about mindfulness? I think Mindfulness broke my sleep. It’s really bad. My memory is being badly affected now and I have this constant ringing in my head (not ears in my head!!)

I’m not asking for a solution. I’m asking has anyone else had bad sleeping side affects from mindfulness?

[Music_Freak]

I can't say I've experienced that, or know anyone that has. I have the typical issue of not being able to shut my thoughts off when I try and sleep.

My sleep is all over the place, has been for a couple of months now. I'm going to take sleep meds (even though it's after midnight) just to make sure I get some sleep.

[Guest_2658]

Hey MusicFreak.

hope you are feeling better. Yeah I take an antipsychotic tablet once a week so that it’s the alarm that “wakes” me up. However when I take this drug to sleep it’s not really sleep. I’m not asleep I’m simply not aware that I’m awake most of the night. I don’t “wake up” (because I was not really asleep) refreshed and the rest of the day I’m a zombie.

I “sleep” during the day for an hour or so at weekends. Now that one hour might be the closest I do get to normal sleep.

Getting back to mindfulness. I think it’s the acceptance part of mindfulness that broke my sleep. You know that part of the process where you let the thoughts come (and don’t try to block them out). I acknowledged these unpleasant thoughts which were real and genuine worries (about me leaving the marriage) . It allowed me to get out of the marriage but All the things I worried about came home to roost! And it all hit me in the space of a few weeks about four months after I walked out of marriage! Bang my sleep stopped!

Hmmmmm...mindfulness allowed me to get out of the abusive marriage. My confidence was sky high. Then I lost my confidence and bang my sleep stopped! So mindfulness did help but it was totally useless when reality struck! Not only that but my anxiety went through the roof and broke my sleep.

Damn it! What the heck have I broken. I can function in quite a technical problem solving job. I’m pretty well paid. My boss thinks I do a good job. I can look after two kids.

Damn! Did mindfulness break my sleep or a really bad anxiety episode(I was suicidal) .

When things are going ok I am anxiety free. So why no sleep? Like you’d think I get the odd good night but none! What’s going on?!

Perhaps my mindfulness hypothesis is wrong. Perhaps it didn’t break my sleep. It’s so confusing. None of this makes logical sense. I’ve had a brain scan , nothing came as out of place.

[Doolhof]

Hi Music Freak, Guest 2658 and All,

Recently I have been reading a little about Mindfulness and I would be surprised if it does interfere with sleep. I am certainly no expert and I appreciate the need for a decent night's sleep Guest 2658.

Do you still practise mindfulness at all? If so, could you try it sometime during the day and not in the evenings and see if that helps.

Have you been to talk to a Dr about the affects you are experiencing? It may be beneficial to have a chat and get things checked out.

Hope your sleep is improving Music Freak!

Cheers all from Dools