Falling Asleep: How Do You Do It?
- Thread starter Starbird
- Start date
Recommended Videos
I have a lot of trouble sleeping and I really haven't found a great solution. I just stay up and read for a bit until I'm so tired that I just fall asleep.
Starbird said:
That's obviously the source of your problem. I read somewhere, and I think that's probably true, that preparation for a good night's sleep begins throughout the day. Obviously when you accumulate lots of stress, worry, anxiety etc. its difficult for your subconscious to return to 'rest mode' that is necessary for sleep(and quality of sleep).
I think our brain is wired to plan for worst case scenarios b/c it probably had some evolutionary advantage way back when, but now it doesn't really serve any other purpose than generate excess stress for no reason at all. So my advice would be to stop worrying(both about the past and the future) b/c its completely pointless. The past already happened and the future is yet to come.
Easier said than done, true. But for example you can try whenever you become consciously aware of worrying to divert your thoughts from it. B/c usually its a viscious cycle. You worry, focus your thoughts on it, worry exacerbates, stress out even more etc. This all accumulates in your subconscious where it needs to be 'processed' one way or another.
When you stop focusing on stressful thoughts, you'll notice the thoughts themselves will eventually weaken. Your emotions follow your thoughts, not the other way around. So try and reduce stress build-up during the day and most likely you'll be able to sleep at night.
Sleep varies in quality. If I drink something before I sleep I inevitably have to get up and take a slash just as I'm falling asleep.Jux said:
Caffeine tends to be a survival tool, as when it goes on for a while I simply cannot function at my job.
This is one of those things that makes a lot of sense until reality intervenes. I have a lot of worries and unless they are resolved I can't just turn them off like a light. I can stop focusing on stressful thoughts, but it takes conscious effort which in turn makes me wake up.stroopwafel said:
Starbird said:
Worrying about problems and trying to fix them are completely separate things. Infact you might even find that the more you worry the less you probably even make an effort to do something about your problems. Simply b/c worrying drains all your energy.
Mind, I was in a similar position where I had a ton of problems about which I used to worry all the time. But I found out a lot of problems wouldn't get fixed b/c of 'reflex thinking', which was my standard response to problems in life. A problem would arise, I would stress out, focus my thoughts on it, get even more anxious etc. And in the end this contributed nothing to, well, actually solving the problem.
It's not an easy solution and it probably takes time and patience to get out of that 'reflex mode', but eventually you'll separate the worry from the problem and it becomes much easier to fix. Worry contributes absolutely nothing to the solution of any problem, but it will lead to stress, anxiety, sleeping problems and maybe even depression.
Masturbation masturbation masturbation...
For (going on) several years now, it has become the default way for me to fall asleep in my own bedroom only... For some reason, if I masturbate before I fall asleep at someone else's place (which I have), I stay up a lot longer than expected instead of falling asleep a lot quicker... Then again, I rarely enjoy sleeping at other people's places not because I'm the the last person to (officially) fall asleep, but because I'm the first to wake up usually... I honestly don't like that since I end up getting even less sleep than how I do at my place most of the time...
Other than that, I try not to drink anything, especially water, a couple of hours before planning to fall asleep because that can mess up my routine of falling asleep in the time frame I wanted in the first place...
For (going on) several years now, it has become the default way for me to fall asleep in my own bedroom only... For some reason, if I masturbate before I fall asleep at someone else's place (which I have), I stay up a lot longer than expected instead of falling asleep a lot quicker... Then again, I rarely enjoy sleeping at other people's places not because I'm the the last person to (officially) fall asleep, but because I'm the first to wake up usually... I honestly don't like that since I end up getting even less sleep than how I do at my place most of the time...
Other than that, I try not to drink anything, especially water, a couple of hours before planning to fall asleep because that can mess up my routine of falling asleep in the time frame I wanted in the first place...
That long walk could be doing more harm than good; I'd suggest doing any exercise no less than one hour before you sack out, preferably two. Other than that, I might recommend some sort of white noise (running small fan, quiet radio static, etc.) to give your mind something to focus on- and as others have said, stroking the palm tree/petting the man in the canoe (yes, masturbation) is a nice rush of endorphins and a good way to induce fatigue.
I've stopped drinking caffeine a few weeks ago. This does give you a couple of days where you'd have to adjust, meaning a couple of days of feeling like absolute shit, but it does get you asleep faster. My theory is that caffeine has a lingering effect that takes longer than you realise, and that the cup of joe at 4 in the afternoon actually takes well until midnight to leave your system.
it's also reduced my morning grumpyness by a good 60%, which was a welcome change for everyone who's had the pleasure of meeting me in the morning.
it's also reduced my morning grumpyness by a good 60%, which was a welcome change for everyone who's had the pleasure of meeting me in the morning.
I am a mild Insomniac Myself so I feel your pain. What works for me is a routine for sleeping I always go to bed within a certain time frame and waking around a set time as well.
I also try not to engage in any activities that will have a heavy emotional or intellectual impact on myself. If I don't avoid such things my brain goes into hyper processing mode and I cant sleep for hours sometimes not sleeping until my brain burns itself out.
Also I have a question for you do you know if you have high blood pressure or not? when mine was really high the pounding of my heart kept me awake as well.
I also try not to engage in any activities that will have a heavy emotional or intellectual impact on myself. If I don't avoid such things my brain goes into hyper processing mode and I cant sleep for hours sometimes not sleeping until my brain burns itself out.
Also I have a question for you do you know if you have high blood pressure or not? when mine was really high the pounding of my heart kept me awake as well.
I lie down in bed and let my thoughts churn until I either fall asleep, or do my best to silence them. This can take from 10 minutes to over an hour, depending on my mood, what thoughts needs to be processed, what the people in my head are talking about, if they're talking about something interesting (it usually isn't), how my best-selling imaginary novel is going to be, what I should have for dinner tomorrow, what I had for dinner last Tuesday, what I had for dinner today, did I even eat dinner today, I forgot to do something, should I get up and fix that, I should fix some other things tomorrow, fuck I've gone to bed, I should sleep and worry about the laundry tomorrow, as well as that other thing, how can I fix that in the best way possible, I have work tomorrow, when do I need to get up or make food...
There's a lot going on in my head, at all times, especially when I'm tired and I want to sleep. It's something I've had all my life, and though I'm used to it, it doesn't keep it from being somewhat annoying when I'm REALLY tired and just want to fall asleep.
There's a lot going on in my head, at all times, especially when I'm tired and I want to sleep. It's something I've had all my life, and though I'm used to it, it doesn't keep it from being somewhat annoying when I'm REALLY tired and just want to fall asleep.
I almost never fall asleep within an hour, but I've never considered myself an insomniac. Once in a while my brain won't shut down at all, but besides that... Eh, it's still difficult to sleep.
What do I do to help it? As mentioned by others, masturbation works well. But I also need complete silence- even the slightest sound keeps me awake, although it takes a really, really loud noise to wake me up.
Hmm... I've also recently found the value of sleeping with someone in bed next to me. Took a lot of getting used to, but it is quite comfortable and calming. Sadly, that is not an option for every night with my current living arrangements.
What do I do to help it? As mentioned by others, masturbation works well. But I also need complete silence- even the slightest sound keeps me awake, although it takes a really, really loud noise to wake me up.
Hmm... I've also recently found the value of sleeping with someone in bed next to me. Took a lot of getting used to, but it is quite comfortable and calming. Sadly, that is not an option for every night with my current living arrangements.
I started moving my mobile phone further away from next to my head and as a result I have found it much easier to get to sleep. I often think long and hard about things though and sometimes it really impacts on how quickly I get to sleep, especially if those thoughts are worrisome.
I don't really sleep enough normally. I don't get tired until about 11pm and have to get up at 7am for work every morning.
I normally listen to music which usually makes me drowsy or read until my eyes get tired.
Also I avoid (if I can) having anything to eat too soon before going to bed, especially sugary foods.
I normally listen to music which usually makes me drowsy or read until my eyes get tired.
Also I avoid (if I can) having anything to eat too soon before going to bed, especially sugary foods.
Do you try to go to bed at the same time everyday? That will really help once you get into a good rhythm.
How well lit-up is your room? It should be fairly dark at night. Ideally, it'll also let enough sunlight in during the morning.
A walk before bed is good, but have you considered an additional "relaxation" step between walking and your bed? Maybe try a cup of tea, meditating, reading a book, or writing in a journal (this could help with your malingering thoughts) to settle in.
Do you do anything else in your bed except sleep? It's best to try to reserve your bed solely for sleeping and sleep-related activities.
As you get closer to your bedtime, you could also try dimming the brightness on your computer monitor. Maybe give f.lux a shot? (https://justgetflux.com/)
Finally, have you tried Melatonin supplements? There's a decent amount of science supporting oral supplements for insomnia (for an alternative treatment, at least). Also, it tends to be fairly side-effect free. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin#Sleep_disorders
How well lit-up is your room? It should be fairly dark at night. Ideally, it'll also let enough sunlight in during the morning.
A walk before bed is good, but have you considered an additional "relaxation" step between walking and your bed? Maybe try a cup of tea, meditating, reading a book, or writing in a journal (this could help with your malingering thoughts) to settle in.
Do you do anything else in your bed except sleep? It's best to try to reserve your bed solely for sleeping and sleep-related activities.
As you get closer to your bedtime, you could also try dimming the brightness on your computer monitor. Maybe give f.lux a shot? (https://justgetflux.com/)
Finally, have you tried Melatonin supplements? There's a decent amount of science supporting oral supplements for insomnia (for an alternative treatment, at least). Also, it tends to be fairly side-effect free. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin#Sleep_disorders
I recommend getting a body pillow. It's one of those long long pillows that's like 4-5 ft long. Lay on your side with it between your thighs, and kinda hug the pillow. Roll onto it if it helps.
Yeah, basically those pervy looking giant japanese pillows minus the pervy image... or have a pervy image, what ever floats your boat.
P.s. you might wanna see if you have a preferred side to sleep on.
Mind how your arm is positioned. If it falls asleep, I think it can mess with your dreaming.
Cheese might help. I fiddled with some for the sake of "cheese dreams" which helps with lucid dreaming.
Yeah, basically those pervy looking giant japanese pillows minus the pervy image... or have a pervy image, what ever floats your boat.
P.s. you might wanna see if you have a preferred side to sleep on.
Mind how your arm is positioned. If it falls asleep, I think it can mess with your dreaming.
Cheese might help. I fiddled with some for the sake of "cheese dreams" which helps with lucid dreaming.
I did have issues trying to sleep back in day, most likely because I left my TV on. Around senior year of high school, I changed how I went to sleep. My room is as dark as possible, the only sound is a fan for white noise, get the room as cold as possible, and I daydream. For some reason, not trying to go to sleep... makes me fall asleep faster. I just try and stay awake as long as I can daydreaming, then I fall asleep usually within ten minutes.
Being awake untill 5am in the morning really. By then my body might decide it is time to gett some sleep.