[HALLIEBETH87]

Any tips on how to get rest when your mind is racing at night? I'm tried calming thoughts and relaxing in cool dark room. And I tried doing slow breathing to calm but nothing helped. I've been exhausted all day.

How do you calm your mind?

[Row Jimmy]

I try to read and remember to get to bed at a specific hour so I have a schedule. This is one of my issues - my schedule is whacky. My other problem is I can't stop doing stuff. I also try to stay off the computer and turn off the TV but that's easier said than done.

The first element, for me, is the discipline to go to bed. If I happen to meditate late to music, that can help me too.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Yes I went to bed at same time as usual and of course no caffeine! This happens sometime but luckily not much outside of mania

[Turtlesoup]

Some times you just can't-I'm working on accepting that I have all these coping skills & meds but sometimes none of that works. It's hard to just sit with all that racing thought crap stuff but lately when I have tried all my tricks & none of them are helping I let go & tell myself ok race away-eventually it winds down where I can meditate or draw or listen to music or walk it off. Sometimes it helps me to just let it flow & write or type it out-that takes all the air out of it sometimes. Take care

[mtnannie]

I know it is hard but turning the tv off really helps me. Then i read in bed and i usually get sleepy. If i don't get sleepy, i check to make sure i took all my meds for night time. If that dosn't work, i work to remind myself "it is what it is". I usually get tired of such hooey that i get sleepy from arguing with myself .��. Sorry, my inner smart aleck had to come out. In reality, i also have two meditations i do in bed with my eyes shut. Sometimes all you can do is go with it. Hope some of these posts help!

[raspberrytorte]

What I tried, when I had severe racing thoughts, was to turn on music (I used post rock), and just let my thoughts go along with the music, so I was kind of in a half sleep/half awake state. It didn't make me sleep, but it made the thoughts calming and not completely unbearable.

[wiretwister]

xanex will "turn my brain off" like a light switch...

[HALLIEBETH87]

I dont have prn for sleep anymore. Just the 600 mg gabapentin, 10mg zyprexa, 100mg lamictal and 40mg Latuda and trileptal I take at night and I still barely slept last night.

I'm really hoping my pdoc drops zyprexa next I see him if Latuda does well.

[BipolaRNurse]

I take a combination of Klonopin, Geodon and Zyprexa at night and usually it takes over within two hours. Sometimes lately even that doesn't make me sleep, and my mind just races. So I try to do my breathing techniques that I learned in the hospital and hope for the best. I'm almost always asleep by 1 though. Not bad for somebody who used to be up most of the night.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Yea I took my meds around 8 and I've been listening to soft music since then and up and down trying to distract and calm myself. I'm wide awake, anxious and mind is betraying me.

More music.

[raspberrytorte]

Yeah, really, the music helped me a lot. Just lay in bed, in the dark, and listen and let your thoughts go along with the music.

[~Christina]

If none of the coping skills have worked , just lie in bed and accept that your mind will race and you are not going to get any sleep, the pressure is off you and often you will fall asleep because it just doesn't matter if you sleep or not.

Anyhow that's how I manage my life long racing mind insomniac nonsense.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Thanks. I eventually fell asleep. It doesn't help I get collection call for psych ip debt. I just made a payment but they call me everyday even weekends and always different times. Annoying. I can't pay it all!

[raspberrytorte]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

Thanks. I eventually fell asleep. It doesn't help I get collection call for psych ip debt. I just made a payment but they call me everyday even weekends and always different times. Annoying. I can't pay it all!

Totally understand this. I can't pay all of my medical debt either!

[Homeira]

On thing that has helped me calm down a racing mind is a coloring-book (!). They have amazing ones made for grown-ups, I personally have one with beautiful mandalas. But there are all sorts of designs. When I can`t sleep and my mind is running a marathon, I get up from bed, make me a cup of decaf, and sit down at the kitchen-table and do my art-therapy. It is good to distract my mind by consentrating on something very practical.
Knitting has the same effect for me. These are two easy, calming activities that helps me a lot.
Music helps a lot, but sometimes not even that calms me down when I get into the stage you are describing.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I love mandalas! I've run out. I do them when I'm anxious a lot!

[Capriciousness]

Honestly when it's for real like that klonopin is the only thing that will make a dent. Though I have had some success with melatonin and a book that is calming and engaging but not exciting.

[gayleggg]

I sometimes listen to a guided relaxation program to help relax me and help me nod off. If that doesn't work I rely on medication.

Best wishes, Gayle
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[HALLIEBETH87]

I know I wont be sleeping tonight. My friend just failed an exam and is telling me she wants to hurt herself. :/

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I hope your friend is ok and that you are ok helping her through those feelings.