How do you fall asleep? Silence? Noise?

[Borisjohnsonshairbrush]

Just this ..

Having an anxious episode tonight and falling asleep will be very hard for me so it's headphones in and I'll put on "friends" "will and grace" or a comedy with canned laugher, shut my eyes and try and drift off.

I can hardly bare the silence. Anyone else have a certain sleep style?

I also need a pillow between my legs and a really soft well worn sheets I hate brand new sheets....

Have to have the noise of the fan on - even through winter

Same here - DH suffers from a sleep disorder and restless legs. I'd have murdered him years ago if not for the Dyson fan.

White noise

Me- eye mask and ear plugs to block DH's snoring. I need quiet.
DH- TV and lights on and he sleeps through anything!!!

The fan all year round

I’m the opposite. I like silence to the point I wear earplugs - for me silence is bliss.

Wow feeling relieved the required "noise" of some sort isn't just me. Goes to show what a comfort it brings.

I used to need complete silence but since dh died I can’t go to sleep without having an audio book on. I find it very much a comfort and I don’t feel so alone

Industrial ear plugs and CBD oil

Aww @ghostmouse I'm so sorry. Much love to you xx

We are dealing with DH's recent stroke and I now know his cancer is advancing rapidly, at the moment I am avoiding sleeping tablets because he is downstairs in a hospital bed and I am upstairs until an airbed arrives tomorrow so I have the TV on all night to try to distract the thoughts in my head.

I have wireless earphones and listen to audiobooks every single night.

My mind spins out of control if I'm in silence, especially if I'm not that tired.

I listen to the same few books on repeat over and over again so that my mind doesn't engage in the plot

Once I can be down with him silence will be OK because it is what he likes.

I need to do a certain routine before I can allow myself to go to sleep, which starts about 7pm where certain jobs have to be done. Washing hung up, dishes and hoovering done, surfaces wiped, everything put back in its place etc. Kids need to be ready for bed. The oldest is sometimes up later than me, but I've got a baby aswell so I'm knackered. I need to have a bath, teeth brushed, moisturise, hair brushed, fresh water, phone on to charge. Can't go to bed and relax unless all of those things are done. Then I lie in the dark, in silence on my phone until my eyes start closing and go to sleep.
My last pregnancy I had terrible insomnia and some nights only got about an hours sleep. I thought I was going to lose my mind. I don't know how people cope, and I really feel for people who struggle to fall asleep.

I listen to podcasts on timer ( currently satc/ajlt) as they sound like pals chatting in the pub so it's cosy. And the room has to be absolutely pitch black

Asmr!

Oh you lovelies.

Even falling asleep can be difficult. Heart is with you all xx

@5thHelena yes that's just it. It's cosy

Podcasts or old bbc radio comedies

So sorry @bloodywhitecat

Completely understand. Can recommend old episodes of yes minister (available as a radio edit on audible) for getting through nights. It's 18 hours long

I listen to guided mediations or stories (Jason Stephenson does good guided imagery stories for grown ups).

Or I try really hard to not actively think but notice the noises/visions of things that pop into my head, if that makes sense? So I might hear my name then see a quick image of big ben, then a tree, then some windows etc, then hear a line from a TV show... that I might not necessarily notice if I'm thinking actively... don't know if that makes sense.

Yes to the pillow between knees too, otherwise my hips hurt.

If I've got a migraine I find having a piece of clothing over my eyes really helps me to drift off - just a little bit if weight.

I listen to 'cabin downpour' on the Headspace ap. Every night the same, never listen to a different one and have been doing this for about 3 years. I love the sound of pouring rain, I imagine I'm by all snuggled in bed in a caravan and it's drumming on the roof

Very much depends on the day.

In the summer, silence.

In the winter, I have a noisy radiator in my room (that the landlord refuses to fix!!!) and it's either earplugs, or white noise.

I now have found this trick of actively 'making' my eyelids heavier and I drift off almost immediately. But it doesn't normally work combined with white noise.

I have to cuddle something

We have a giant teddy from ikea that lives in our bed. We also have a very poofy duvet!

Try the app "Calm" - loads of different sounds, music, stories to help you fall asleep.

Been an absolute game changer for me, especially if I've woken up and brain is racing.