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