Mind races at night

[erc727]

The mind races at night. Can’t sleep cause of my mind is thinking of the next day. Irritated body which keeps me up. Driving me crazy.

[Activity2004 Administrator]

Welcome to the group. There’s a lot of ideas and information under the Topics/Events/Pinned Posts sections that may help you with some sleep ideas. Are you allergic to anything that is food related? Have you talked with your doctor about the issues with your sleep problems?

[cheritorrox LCHF]

There's a "SLeep support" forum on Health Unlocked where you might get more advice. I can only recommend melatonin (natural supplement) which helped me feel calmer.

[grace111 in reply to cheritorrox]

is that called Circadin i got 2mg from my gp but iv not started them yet as i'v read that they cause nightmares. its for the over 55 and only on prescription. does it work. please could you let me know how you get on with them and if you have any side effects from them. iv been taking sleeping tablets instead which are horrible to as they make me all fuzzy the next day id be really grateful if you let me know. thanks in advance. grace xoxo

[Zest]

Hi erc727

Really sorry to hear you're struggling to sleep. I am going to give you the link to the Sleep Support forum, as that might be helpful:

healthunlocked.com/sleep-su...

Zest

[grace111]

iv suffered from this it can drive you mad. i was told to spend sometime before going to bed and think about any problems the next day would have or any questions and to think about them and then say. right thats that dealt with so when it came up and i went to bed. once my mind started racing i would say " no iv dealt with that: it didnt wory very well. but it works better now sometimes. i went to the doctor and she gave me anti depressants that helped me enourmously. i didnt even realize i was depressed. im not saying you are im just sharing what happened to me. have you been to tell your doctor this as not sleeping is a bad thing as we cant concentrate the next day as we are so tired. especailly if you drive. wishing you well. love grace xoxo

[TheAwfulToad]

This sort of thing usually boils down to stress - do you have some problems at work or with life that appear insurmountable? If so, try to just get those things fixed, one at a time - there isn't really any other course of action.

In the meantime, you could try listening to a relaxation/self-hypnosis MP3 when you're ready to sleep. I know that sounds a bit woo-woo, but they really do work.

An alternative possibility - to stop your mind jumping around endless problems when you're trying to sleep - is to focus on one particular issue that's routine, soluble, and preferably something you quite enjoy (or at least are competent at doing). It doesn't matter what it is. It can be doing the laundry or something equally trivial, but it should be something that involves a modest amount of mental engagement. Imagine yourself performing the task, in detail. It's not dissimilar to the "counting sheep" idea, but it should present you with a slightly more sophisticated mental challenge. What you want to imagine, in fact, is a task you can "do in your sleep" - and you'll find you'll just drift off halfway through.

[deejames]

I too have mind chatter at night but I have been helped a lot by practising mindful meditation during g the day and applying the techniques for focusing on breathing at night. It's do to practise just before sleep as well if you have trouble dropping off.

Dee

[Hidden]

I have the same - I've been taking Kalms or Nytol, which the pharmacist said would be okay with the warfarin. They are helping, not every night but most nights.

Lis

[andyswarbs]

I love deejames suggestion of meditation, because even if you cannot sleep if you can at least be relaxed and calm that is all the body needs. How much exercise do you get, more is better. Also make sure you eat your final meal earlier in the evening, say before 6pm. Then your body is hopefully not digesting food while trying to sleep. Fruit can be digested in around 30 mins, veg in around 2 hours. Oil & fatty foods can take five hours.