mind keeps going and going
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AlaskaFlower
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:14 pm
My mind can't stop going when I'm going to bed. I just lay there and think. My eyelids flutter... I can't get to sleep. I can calm myself down during the day by focusing on inanimate objects. How do I do this with my eyes closed. I can't even picture that waterfall or the trail from the relaxation tape. Does anyone else go through anything similar?
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Guest
AlaskaFlower, try chamomille/mint tea an hour before you go to bed. If you have any hobbies that are relaxing to you, try them. I know it's hard but the more you focus on not being able to focus on your thoughts, the tougher it'll be. The program also suggests to not lay there in bed in cases such as this. Get up and read, listen to music, whatever else until your body tells you it's time to sleep. You're not alone...keep working.
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Guest
AF -
Sometimes when I feel that way at night, I leave my bedside light on until I get very sleepy. That way I can still look around the room to keep my mind occupied until I'm ready to fall asleep. When I get tired, the light goes off and I go to sleep.
Another thing I do is keep a fan running in the bedroom all night. I find the white noise calming and it's another thing I can concentrate on.
Sometimes when I feel that way at night, I leave my bedside light on until I get very sleepy. That way I can still look around the room to keep my mind occupied until I'm ready to fall asleep. When I get tired, the light goes off and I go to sleep.
Another thing I do is keep a fan running in the bedroom all night. I find the white noise calming and it's another thing I can concentrate on.
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Guest
Three suggestions:
1. Get one of those sound machines that lets you program it to play waterfalls, or a beach, or a forest. This will give your mind something to occupy it while you fall asleep.
2. Do you read before bed? If not, I recommend you try to read an engrossing book while in bed. Then you'll be thinking of the book. It always helps me.
3. Remember: An anxious mind cannot exist in a calm body. If you can do Lucinda's relaxation CD either in bed or maybe earlier in the evening. Once your body is calm, your mind will follow suit.
Feel better.
1. Get one of those sound machines that lets you program it to play waterfalls, or a beach, or a forest. This will give your mind something to occupy it while you fall asleep.
2. Do you read before bed? If not, I recommend you try to read an engrossing book while in bed. Then you'll be thinking of the book. It always helps me.
3. Remember: An anxious mind cannot exist in a calm body. If you can do Lucinda's relaxation CD either in bed or maybe earlier in the evening. Once your body is calm, your mind will follow suit.
Feel better.
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Guest
AF-
I've been experiencing the exact same thing recently. I wake up after a few hours, feeling anxious and flushed and I don't know why. At first, I fret over feeling anxious for no reason, then I start thinking about misc. problems, mine or otherwise, then the body sensations kick in. Then I fret over body sensations and other hypochria-related health problems, then I catastrophise, what-if, and negative myself to full-blown anxiety. Then, I start thinking about the negative health affects of not sleeping, so I become yet more anxious about not sleeping. I start thinking about calling my doctor in the morning to renew my perscriptions to klonopin and an SSRI. By this time, I've gotten out of bed and am watching TV - all night new's channels - more scary stuff. I try to sleep but my eyes won't stay shut and my mind won't stop it's round and round. Has anyone tried Melatonin? I'm probably going to try one tonight and see how it goes. I know it's not a long-term solution - I need to revisit the program - but I'm hoping it can get me over this hump. I think the anticipatory anxiety of getting into bed is starting to kick in. I don't often identify with Michael Jackson - but I can see how desperate you get just to get a good night's sleep!
I've been experiencing the exact same thing recently. I wake up after a few hours, feeling anxious and flushed and I don't know why. At first, I fret over feeling anxious for no reason, then I start thinking about misc. problems, mine or otherwise, then the body sensations kick in. Then I fret over body sensations and other hypochria-related health problems, then I catastrophise, what-if, and negative myself to full-blown anxiety. Then, I start thinking about the negative health affects of not sleeping, so I become yet more anxious about not sleeping. I start thinking about calling my doctor in the morning to renew my perscriptions to klonopin and an SSRI. By this time, I've gotten out of bed and am watching TV - all night new's channels - more scary stuff. I try to sleep but my eyes won't stay shut and my mind won't stop it's round and round. Has anyone tried Melatonin? I'm probably going to try one tonight and see how it goes. I know it's not a long-term solution - I need to revisit the program - but I'm hoping it can get me over this hump. I think the anticipatory anxiety of getting into bed is starting to kick in. I don't often identify with Michael Jackson - but I can see how desperate you get just to get a good night's sleep!