[lors]

Hello all,

I used to have it bad. Keeping the eyes shut but my mind is racing. Watching the hours creep by. Seeing that first ray of sunshine seeping through until it floods the room, leaving you exhausted, irritable, incredibly lazy.

Then one night while forcing my eyes closed, out of boredom, I started to "see" that it's not totally black. More like black with murky grey. Then, slowly, I saw a pattern: the grey would coalesce to the center then kind of move further away in a spiral. Imagine watching a comet from behind. It starts big then becomes smaller and smaller until it disappears and gets replaced by another, then another.

I don't know if I'm doing this (imagining it), or if I'm really seeing this. But either way, when I close my eyes and actively look for this pattern, I can't think of anything else except watch the pattern of grey murk kind of leaving me.

Next thing I know, I wake up feeling rested or find myself in a dream.

Of course this doesn't work 100% of the time. Maybe 80%? Which isn't bad. I mean, sometimes I'm going thru things that make me feel really anxious.

Other things I do is imagine calm water like an ocean and imagining I'm on my motorcycle going through a curve and I can see my hand over my grip as I push towards the corner.

Those plus the combination of the visual trick nearly always work for me.

What do you guys do?

lors

[Little Lulu]

Thanks for this lors. Distracting the mind is the best sleep aid ... other than utter exhaustion.

I am some what literary so sometimes I try writing a poem or story in my head. Or I try recalling my day in detail, from getting up to going to bed. Both work pretty well.

[lors]

Hmm...recalling the day huh? Sounds interesting. It's mundane enough to not arouse too much interest yet at the same time it's engaging enough so you're distracted. Cool strategy.

Thanks for the tip! Can't have enough when it comes to insomnia

[lors]

Hi Little Lulu,

I just wanted to let you know that I tried doing that thing where you recall details of your day and IT WORKS! haha

It works really quick too! I lie down close my eyes, then I work back everything I did: put my watch on the table, brush my teeth, put on my shirt yada yada and next thing I know it's morning. Been doing this the past week already.

So, I just wanted to thank you for the tip!

lors

[Soul_Flower43]

I try an exercise before bed. I brisk walk/run on the treadmill while listening to music. This seems to settle down my "Monkey Mind" and I am able to fall asleep. I use earplugs if my husband is snoring too badly. I like using a fan for white noise to help me focus on that sound instead of getting into discussion with my racing thoughts. I also sometimes have to resort to taking somekind of sleep aid but that doesn't work 100% of the time. First night, I sleep well and second night not so well. So I am not a big fan of sleeping pills. Also, journaling out worrisome thoughts helps me settle better before bedtime... but sometimes this can make it worse.

I am learning to practice mindfulness meditation but keeping consistent with it, isn't easy.

Glad that is working for you!

[MoxieDoxie]

Playing solitaire helps me stay mindful and helps me decompress. That helps for falling asleep....now for waking up at 2-3 am and not being able to fall back asleep is a different story.

[vans1974]

Originally Posted by lors

Hello all,

I used to have it bad. Keeping the eyes shut but my mind is racing. Watching the hours creep by. Seeing that first ray of sunshine seeping through until it floods the room, leaving you exhausted, irritable, incredibly lazy.

Then one night while forcing my eyes closed, out of boredom, I started to "see" that it's not totally black. More like black with murky grey. Then, slowly, I saw a pattern: the grey would coalesce to the center then kind of move further away in a spiral. Imagine watching a comet from behind. It starts big then becomes smaller and smaller until it disappears and gets replaced by another, then another.

I don't know if I'm doing this (imagining it), or if I'm really seeing this. But either way, when I close my eyes and actively look for this pattern, I can't think of anything else except watch the pattern of grey murk kind of leaving me.

Next thing I know, I wake up feeling rested or find myself in a dream.

Of course this doesn't work 100% of the time. Maybe 80%? Which isn't bad. I mean, sometimes I'm going thru things that make me feel really anxious.

Other things I do is imagine calm water like an ocean and imagining I'm on my motorcycle going through a curve and I can see my hand over my grip as I push towards the corner.

Those plus the combination of the visual trick nearly always work for me.

What do you guys do?

lors

The only thing that has worked in 20 years, is my miracle drug...Seroquel!

[lors]

Reading helps too but the book needs to be the right kind - not exciting haha

[kiwi33]

Using sleep hygiene methods helps me to sleep well.

There is an account of them here: Sleep Hygiene: Tips & Techniques - National Sleep Foundation .