I keep getting a racing brain

[Teazymaid]

has anyone else’s had a racing brain where you can’t switch it off to go to sleep or get back to sleep .. it like all my thoughts are coming at me at 100 miles an hour and the topic changes at the same speed ?? It seems to be happening every so often could be 2 months in between and I am writing this while it is happening in hope that attempting to get this written will slow it down .. I’m unsure it is working it’s working and it’s exhausting yet can’t get back to sleep ??? Sue 🥴

[Riverslim]

Hi Teazymaid,

Sorry to hear about the restless sleep. Can I ask

if you thoughts are like mine.

Mine have a voice its not just a thought?

So it's very noisy when they all come at once its like being in a very crowed room the more I try to not think about it they more they're there.

[Teazymaid in reply to Riverslim]

it is my inner self racing I guess .. it is like my normal inner thoughts at hi speed , I don’t feel like it is from different voices like a busy room .. but we all have that inner voice just at this time it’s relentless .. I’m guessing it’s how it makes us feel and that I suppose will be different for all of us .. since my TBI I have the old inner thoughts that says yes then the new me can’t do it .. like reading a map out loud … something I was very happy to do and when looking at it it all made sense but I couldn’t say the right words fast enough for husband to go in the right direction … happened 4 or 5 I could have screamed with frustration so he pulled over … so I’m guessing I’ve got the old and new thought patterns all given me thoughts at the same time … actually I don’t have a clue but it’s worth a guess 😊

[Riverslim in reply to Teazymaid]

I only asked because mine is my voice with all my thoughts. Not everyone hears a voice I've recently found out.For me I use white noise throughout the night only turn it off when I get up. When I do wake in the night as soon as the thoughts start to flow I use breathing techniques.

I consentrate on the voice talking me through the breathing trying to make it louder and louder

Deep breath in for 4

Hold for 6

Deep breath out for 4

I consentrate on the breath or holding the breath whilst counting each of the numbers out loud in my head

I say it in my mine over and over until the others go quiet.

Sometimes it takes longer than others so guess the concentrating maybe making me more tired and most of the time I go back off to sleep.

Doesn't always work but might be worth a go if you hear an internal voice.

Hope you are able to quiet the thoughts for sleep going forward.

Wishing you all the best xxx

[Teazymaid in reply to Riverslim]

Thank you that is a good reminder of box breaking I have used this to realise anxiety but didn’t think of this with the racing brain .. will give it a go next time . Sue x

[Teazymaid in reply to Riverslim]

Sounds very much like me with mine own voice … head injuries are so complicated and exhausting sue 🥴

[Pairofboots]

Hi Sue, I had this during my early recovery. It used to drive me nuts. I had thousands of thoughts, not being able to catch any of them. They stopped me being able to focus. I now think of this as the brain having a motorway system with major divisions, thoughts starting their journey, but then getting lost, aimlessly trying to make their way but hitting division after division. I think it was the the brain making new connections trying to find pathways around the damage. I guess it did resolve with time, it seemed to last for quite a few months. At the time I had support from neuropsychology and neuropsychiatry so pills and potions possibly helped. I still have problems with ordering thoughts at times, but I think that is now just part of living with a brain injury. Ian🍀

[Teazymaid in reply to Pairofboots]

love your analogy .. think my is like spaghetti junction 😂. Nice to hear I’m not alone .. it has happened several times over the last few months … let’s hope it sorts its new junctions and roads out very soon 🤪 sue

[ZeeandMe]

Yes I had that for nearly two years after my ABI. A couple of weeks of sleeping pills and reducing my duloxetine seemed to break the cycle and help. I also now have CBD which seems to help keep me/my brain calmer too. Im sorry you're going though this too it is an absolutely awful symptom to have.

[ZeeandMe]

Yes I had that for nearly two years after my ABI. A couple of weeks of sleeping pills and reducing my duloxetine seemed to break the cycle and help. I also now have CBD which seems to help keep me/my brain calmer too. Im sorry you're going though this too it is an absolutely awful symptom to have.

[Teazymaid in reply to ZeeandMe]

I am just pleased to hear that others experience the same thing . Not that I want others to feel the same 😊it just helps with the knowledge from others … can I ask what CBD do you take ? Sue x

[ZeeandMe in reply to Teazymaid]

I actually use a CBD e-liquid to vape the it because of absorption issues orally and I recommend Dr watson CBD. If you not want to vape it then drops/gummies etc are also available

[Leaf100]

Hi Sue.In the beginning I used to dream I was being a massive wall of tv's and they were all playing a different channel. Sounds kind of the same.

Then after time passed things would try to come all at once at get stuck and I literally could not think or respond- just stuck.

I am wondering if humming might help.

It helps with tinnitus and so I wonder if disrupting the sound input kind of thing might work.

The other thing that helps me sleep is listening to someone with a really calm voice. There is a guy on YouTube who does art restorations and he has a very calm and measured voice. It's called Baumgartner Restorations. That and old Star Trek Generations Episodes. Oh. And for white noise the Polish guy on youtube who cleans carpets.

Leaf x

[Teazymaid]

yeah I think noise would help as breathing techniques like someone else mentioned .. it is exhausting but good to hear others have experienced similar .. Sue x

[Stubble]

There's a technique I learned at a Thai temple which is called noting. It can be done alongside breathing techniques too.

The idea is that when you start to get the rambling narrative you stop and label it as, for example, worrying, arguing, planning, thinking..

When you identify the activity you then repeat the label a few times, so, worrying, worrying, worrying etc

The idea is to break the train of thought so it can't continue to engage you.

You may notice a few different types of thinking patterns as the narrative changes so you just label them as you notice them appearing.

I've used this a few times and found it to be very helpful.

[Teazymaid]

oh wow ! Interesting not heard of this before but sounds good idea .. I will also try this 😊 sue x

[Nemo24]

Yes I have racing brain as I settle down to sleep. Then awake for couple more hours 😕 When I'm doing less well and fatigued I keep trying to remember what day it is. So that indecisiveness makes me worry I have missed appointments. Trying to work on getter sleeps at moment.

[Teazymaid]

I do get it sometime when trying to go to sleep .. it’s not all the time and possibly when I’m more fatigued it happens ..

[fibnum]

I don't mean to make light of a distressing issue. I found myself going bed at 2:00 AM and waking at 6:00 AM, too full of thoughts to sleep more, so about a year ago I started getting up and writing poetry. I still can't sleep in, but I have a book of 80 poems being printed and nicely bound this week!

If you don't find anything better to help you sleep, I can send you my book of poetry!

Seriously, you might feel better by channeling your brain activity into a creative endeavor that engages and focuses your thinking. Many creative achievements (most?) have come from hyper-active, tortured minds. It is better than fighting with it and fretting about it.

Physical exercise might also help, as well as communicating over social media or in person with friends more. We need to share thoughts and feelings and have stimulating discussions and debates which allow our bundles of thoughts to be expressed and sorted out. Write ideas or lines of thinking down and read through your notes from time time. That may distract and slow down the jumbled, frenetic thoughts. You can objectify the problem to an extent and get some sense of managing and guiding your brain's energy.

These are just a layman's simple suggestions, of course; you may need more professional intervention.

“Bunnies”

“There are bunnies in our yard!” My child exclaimed,

Wishing they could willingly be held and tamed.

Wanting to cuddle their noses and pet their ears,

Gently soothing and calming their fears.

As they watch us tense and wary

Of what dangerous threat we carry,

Does one bunny say to friend at his side,

“There are people in our yard, we’d better hide!”?

Whose yard is it? As we stand and stare,

Should the bunnies really care?

Is it ours by law and written deed,

or theirs by nature’s given need?

[Teazymaid in reply to fibnum]

Good idea if you just can’t sleep as just laying there is not good . I think I’m slightly different to you as I normally sleep ok. just when I think I’ve done to much and struggling more cognitively this racing brain kicks in .. I am still waiting to see a neuropsychologist regarding cognition as I am a lot slower in certain areas xx

[GSDsarespecial]

I had a SAH brain aneurysm in July 2024. I came out of hospital October 2024 and I've only had 3 nights full sleep since then. Fatigue is shocking n my brain is like a racing track of vehicles or something when I'm trying to rest n sleep, it's like it's on speed or something. I'm shattered and subsequently given my job up cus I couldn't cope anymore, to the standard the old me would have expected. I'm hopefully getting some help soon from neuropsychology team, as the community brain team near me are unable to help anymore, which is disappointing. I love to read now and I can which is good, as I disappear into the story which is good n relaxing. I like easy reads as they help me relax. It's good to know we're all not alone, as in making it up what we're going thru, as I'm sure some people I know don't believe me when I'm struggling. This makes me sad cus I'm not that desperate and would never wish this on anyone, as it's an invisible living nightmare.

[Teazymaid in reply to GSDsarespecial]

Oh no you have got it bad .. I’m so sorry to hear … it is good to know we’re not alone but wouldn’t wish this on anyone .. like you said people have no idea how difficult/differant/ strange our brains our after TBI ..Sue 🥴

[Flosmum04]

Hi. I have this. It happens when I’m tired and overwhelmed and my brain has been really busy. I can’t seem to slow it down. It’s really unpleasant. It can happen in the day or in the night. It’s exhausting. Going outside helps me, even at night. If I sit and listen to the outside noises it slows it down a bit. Failing that the only thing I’ve found helps is to disengage my brain completely and watch something on tv that means I don’t have to think. I don’t watch much tv normally so this is different for my brain. I’m trying to slow it down in other ways but when it’s really bad I literally have to shut down. Hope you find a way of managing it it x

[Teazymaid]

hi , I do think It happens to me when I’m tired or more anxious than normal .. think you have the right idea in trying to divert your mind to something not important .. and yea it is very exhausting Sue x

[Hidden]

Hi Teazymaid

Ever since my TBI 2022 I have experienced a racing brain, especially when stressed. It wakes me up and I practice mindfulness in order to get back to sleep.

This will normally being a jigsaw on my computer for 30 mins and if it is really bad, eating a banana whilst I do it. Together they both work for me.

The racing brain coupled with my reoccurring dream about an old job that I was glad to get out of led me to look at other things. Hyper focus, self isolation and several other things has led me to being diagnosed as being ADHD. This diagnosis was via my doctor and once I had got over the shock it fitted in with my experiences since hospital.

Worth a try on a bit of research and if it fits with you, get a referral from your doctor.

[Teazymaid in reply to Hidden]

Thank you .it does seem to be happening to alot of people and different methods to try and divert it which is all good .. some of which I have heard of before and others that asking on here has reminded me what I’ve forgotten … ADHD hasn’t been on my radar but I am always interested in looking open minded about everything .. Sue 😊