[IchbinkeinTeufel]

I'm lying in bed, trying to sleep. It's 2:38am. My mind just went into OCD territory, so I needed to quickly distract myself, hence coming here via my mobile. I'm curious as to whether you guys also struggle with sleep, due to obsessions, or, more specifically, intrusive thoughts. I've had this problem for most of my life and it's such a pain in the arse. Anyone with this problem, have any solutions or tips? I tend to just distract myself, until the last moment before I pass out. I also use things like jossticks, hot drinks, relaxing or uplifing media, and stuff like that, to work on my anxiety. Lastly, I don't usually go to bed unless I'm very tired, because I don't want to be alone with my thoughts, in silence, and alone.

[Phobicperson]

Yes, I have this obsession with this spot on the right side of my bed and I have to keep checking that spot to make sure nothing's gonna come up from it. So I close my eyes for a few seconds then open them to check. Unfortunately, I haven't found a solution yet. But you're not alone

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

That sounds scary. Have you ever tried intentionally lying on the right side of the bed? Since all this is in your head, you need to teach your brain there's nothing to fear; that it's irrational. I imagine it's something CBT would teach.

[Phobicperson]

No... And I'm too afraid to try something on my own :/ so now I sleep in one specific position only...

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

I see; I had a feeling that might've been the case. :| I think it would help if you would push yourself to do that once, even if for just a few seconds, with your eyes wide open. Nothing will happen. You will be fine. So, when you feel a bit braver, you could do that for yet more seconds, working your way up to minutes, and eventually, hopefully, learning to sleep in that position. It's like, facing your fears, kinda thing. Do you have a psychologist or psychiatrist? Is there nobody that could help you with this? Even if it were just someone, perhaps a family member, to sit in the room with you, while you attempted this; you might feel utterly foolish, but it might help.

[atomicc]

Originally Posted by Phobicperson

Yes, I have this obsession with this spot on the right side of my bed and I have to keep checking that spot to make sure nothing's gonna come up from it. So I close my eyes for a few seconds then open them to check. Unfortunately, I haven't found a solution yet. But you're not alone

I thought I was alone! Every night before bed I have to check the right, left and bottom of my bed to make sure nothing will get me. It's quite annoying. I used to do it forty or fifty times a night and couldn't sleep but I talked myself down to just one. Regardless I still have other intrusive thoughts that keep me up. I try to focus my mind on only my breathing, counting my breath one in, two out. I'll try to force any other thoughts out. Sometimes it works!

[Phobicperson]

Nope, still waiting on a diagnosis... And my family members will just call me crazy, it's all in my head, don't be ridiculous etc. I'll try the sleeping on the right thing and the breathing thing

[starbright777]

I have difficulty getting to bed/sleep and then staying asleep. I do have ADD so I take Adderall but I make sure that I take it early in the morning - if I don't then I'm really wiggy at night. I try to do things conducive to sleep - lower lighting, sound machine, not watching tv is a big one - if I watch the news and hear all the horrible things going on I would never be able to stop my mind. This is too for scary programming as well - try not to watch those police shows where there's killing, deception, etc. My husband could watch something like Paranormal Activity and then turn off the tv and be snoring in minutes.

I have heard warm drinks are good - although you don't want to drink so much that you'll have to get up to tinkle! Night is a very lonely time - we don't realize how distracted we are during the day hearing all of life's sounds. That's why sometimes my sound machine helps. I don't read because that can be very emotionally stimulating. Now after saying all that, I will admit that I do at times break down and take a Xanax which does the trick. Could it be your meds that are keeping you up? Could it be stress or caffeine? Do you have anything meds wise to fall back on? The funny thing is that so many of these meds make you so sleepy during the day. Best wishes to you in your lonely hours - I hear ya! There should be a place all us "nighties" can meet and keep each other company.

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

Best of luck, Phobicperson. Be gentle with your approach, but also be firm.

[Grey Matter]

God this is a HORRID bit of OCD. It was a lot worse when I was about 18-19. I wouldn't sleep at all because I'd stay up all night organizing thoughts and what have you. The way I got a bit better was by making a health ritual before bed time. Like shutting off all of my electronics (and I never did it in a specific order. Which was really hard at first), I would allow myself 20 minutes of reading then 10 minutes of "thinking time" when I finally settled into bed, then I'd make myself stop so I could sleep. It took a bit, but it helped a lot.