Insomnia mainly due to worrying - how do you switch off

[JustMyName]

I've been sleeping really badly, partly due to shoulder pain, but then my brain won't stop worrying. I can't solve the problems at the moment. Any ideas for how to switch off at night? Any really good podcasts or similar? I've tried breathing exercises, but get more stressed about it as it doesn't feel natural. I read every night in bed, sometimes for over an hour, but still can't sleep.

Grateful for any tips!

Also ASMR is great for relaxing you, particularly role play. I also find ltryptophan is great for keeping you asleep as it's a precursor to serotonin

I know it's not really recommended to watch TV, but documentaries work for me. Especially Ken Burns documentaries. They're so well done and not loud or jarring but calm and placid and occasionally humorous. They really seem to engross my mind away from my worries and I end up drifting off to sleep. I set the TV timer for two hours so if I do get to sleep I don't wake up to 'voices'.

On second thought, avoid the War ones they can be loud, although they're also very good.

I'm in the US and they're on Netflix and Amazon. Not sure if they're available in the UK.

I listen to a podcast called Boring Books for bedtime. Just a woman with a calm voice reading stuff .
I can't sleep because my brain won't switch off too. I'm not a big worries, most of what is running thru my brain is unimportant. But it's hard to think of one thing while listening to something else.

Ah, I have had impingement - horrible pain. I make a sort of nest so I’m not leaning on it and it’s completely supported.

@InglouriousBasterd thanks, how did you get rid of it in the end and how long did it take? I manage to get comfy, but then my brain kicks in and I'm awake.

Last night was a new low, I was still awake at 8 a.m and must have finally slept for a couple of hours.

I hesitate to tell you this but mine ended in surgery, subacromial decompression. It’s still a problem now but honestly I just have a shit shoulder! So not the best gauge of normal recovery!

I still struggle now without painkillers before bed, are you on any pain relief? I might well have missed you saying it!

Oh no. Sorry to hear that.

I take painkillers when it's bad, it is better than it was, I'm visiting an osteopath and it has helped a bit and he said he's confident he can cure it so fingers crossed!

I’m sure he will - most impingements aren’t like mine!! I managed to tear the rotator cuff along the way which worsened everything so it’s really not a good example!