Memories From My Past Flood My Mind When I Try To Sleep

Memories From My Past Flood My Mind When I Try To Sleep....
I don't understand why this happens to me. I lay down at night to sleep and my mind keeps me awake no matter how very tired I am. Just like now. I've tried for hours to get to sleep but just can't so I finally gave up. I wish that there was a way to turn my brain off at night without having to take some sort of medication. I currently don't take any and am afraid to start. Does anyone else feel this way or go through this at night?

When I was younger, I had this problem (still do at times)---then, when I slept my dreams were a comfort... From teen through twenties I had severe insomnia, couldn't shut my brain off... it was so bad I would hallucinate during the day at times having been awake for several days (& still working/going to school in a daze)
Have you tried reading? I used to stay up late reading, now when I read at night I get drowsy, even if I am interested in what I am reading. (& sometimes I use an audio book or radio play like the bbc production of lord of the rings, or librevox (online site with books read aloud)....music doesn't work for me because I listen and respond too much emotionally. Apologies for the disjointed response....

One technique that did help, with practice, and still does help (sometimes it is hard because you have to keep bringing yourself back to it as your mind will drift back again) is to visualized something I like in detail (for me, it would be something like setting up camp at my favorite remote lean-to, constructing a piece of furniture, or planning a trip, visualizing and watching, going through every detail of the activity & pulling myself back when the past/other disturbances slipped back in----I keep making myself start the activity again in my head and suddenly it is the next day...
Now, I can sleep (I did give in and begin meds in my 30's----did very well for a while....)
but I dream about the past repeatedly and wake up feeling awful,
the emotional aftermath is hard to shake.
And, it feels as if it is hard to wake up, I feel aware of trying to wake up and get out of the situation...
Something that might help short of prescription meds, is taking a benadryl when you get into bed (just for a while)----for most people this antihistamine causes a brief but strong period of sleepiness, about 20-30min after taking; but you have to give in to that feeling at the time it comes on, it doesn't last.
It will be important, of course, to deal with the issues that cause the problem over time so that you can be free...........................as you can be. Losing sleep just makes things harder to deal with because you are always tired underneath...
Hugs.

I thank you so very much for your response. I do try reading but can't keep my mind on the book. You're right I do need to deal with all that stuff that keeps me awake at night. I guess my problem won't go away until I do. I'm very sorry that you go through this too but it's good to know that I'm not the only one and that there is someone else out there who can relate to my situation. Hang in there!

When I lay down to sleep all my fears, insecurities and past (bad) experiences come flooding in. I have to really work at clearing my head by counting my breaths. It doesn't always work quickly but it usually puts me to sleep, unless I'm in a particularly bad depression which I've been lately, then I my mind just jumps from one thing to another until it finally wears its self out. I used to take meds that helped but am off of them for a while now. They conflict with a med I'm taking for a blood clot. I'll be glad when I can use them again.

Sorry you are having so much problems with it. I understand about not being able to concentrate on reading, I can't do that either.
Best wishes.
Gayle

Thank you for responding to my post. I'm sorry that you're dealing with this too. I was up all night last night and finally got maybe 3 hours of sleep earlier today. Thank God I don't have to work today because I'm certainly dragging. But maybe I'll be extra worn out tonight and can fall asleep quicker. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that happening anyway.

You should see if you can get a script for ambien to get you out of this cycle. That has helped me in the past. You must know and I mean really understant though that any medicine you take is very temporary and only used to give you a fresh start. (Like being well rested so that you don't think about sleep all day the next day)

I appreciate you answering my post. Thank you very much for your advise. I've been forcing myself to read a book which has helped me become sleepy faster. Hopefully I can continue to use this method. I'd like to keep away from meds if I can.

You got an active brain with an excellent memory. You can recall images with photographic clarity. Avoid TV, phone, and computer 1hr. before bed time. Use that hour to let your mind wind down. Make sure your bed is comfortable. An uncomfortable bed can keep you on edge for hours.

I have trouble with thoughts of the present keeping me up. I have a prescription but I'm like you, I'd like to stay away from medication. Reading sometimes helps but when I put down the book...thoughts enter in. If I've had a bad night like tonight, the next night should be better as I'll be totally exhausted.

Thanks for this post.

The first thing to do is meditate, practice keeping your mind fully blank. I can do this now, it's hard, but I have learned to do it. Trust me, the memories would not come up as much. Also, if really horrific things really did happen to you an anti anxiety med might help. However, be careful of the sleep med, Ambien, it has been known to induce some pretty crazy behaviors in the night, driving while on it, talking nonsense, and generally acting like the stereotypical lunatic. The stuff is risky just so you know. Xanax and anti-anxiety stuff isn't as bad at least not in the short term. However, dependence is a risk of it and it might effect you in the long run. Your shrink or doctor won't tell you that because the pharma companies payed him off and your elected officials are payed off by the pharma companies not to do anything about it so you got the straight word from me my friend