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Original poster

How do you fall asleep? Silence? Noise?

99 replies

Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 16/12/2021 22:44

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....

OP posts:

Fleemeister · 16/12/2021 23:15

@ghostmouse I'm so sorry. @bloodywhitecat that sounds so difficult, I can't even imagine.

When I have been at my lowest I have found sleep music useful. A friend died and I couldn't switch off at all until I found a "whale sleep music" playlist on Spotify. Then I moved on to general sleep sounds or sleep music playlists. But I go back to silence when I feel better.

milkandone · 16/12/2021 23:16

I need complete silence and darkness, if there's so much as a tiny bit of light shining anywhere in the room I can't sleep.
I also need to have a duvet on at all times even in the summer, a blanket or sheet doesn't do it for me.
Jealous of DH who could quite easily fall asleep standing up in a noisy room.

Megan2018 · 16/12/2021 23:21

@floppybit

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

I listen to rain sounds too. Not always every night, but when I know I’ll struggle to switch off-so usually about half the week. I discovered it when trying various white noise for the newborn. Bugger all worked on her but the rain was great for me!

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cookiesandtea · 16/12/2021 23:24

My old pregnancy pillow to cuddle and white noise app.

The best!

cheeseislife8 · 16/12/2021 23:25

I love a fan for some white noise, but obe recently started listening to audiobooks. I too can't cope with silence!

seventyminutes · 16/12/2021 23:25

I'm happy in the silence now but for years (up to three years ago when I met my DP) I had extreme insomnia since I was a kid, I think it's relied to my bipolar disorder which I often describe as an energy disorder.

I remember listening to frog noises when o was younger, the radio, the tv and more recently in my adult years podcasts and meditation tracks. It was only when I started making peace with my life and having a happy home life that I was able to tolerate the silence and it's a huge relief. I still sometimes suffer now especially when I'm restless or high energy but I still count my blessings I'm finally able to switch off without aid!

goodwinter · 16/12/2021 23:25

Fan all year round, pillow between legs.

I'm prone to nightmares & sleep paralysis so if I'm feeling anxious or have just woken up after a nightmare, then I'll have Friends or The Office or something I've seen a thousand times before on my phone. The comforting voices usually mean I don't relapse into another nightmare (thank god)

shakingmytambourineatyou · 16/12/2021 23:27

I don't care about noise. I can sleep through most. Our house can be very noisy some nights. The thing for me is darkness. I have to have the heavy curtains closed so the room is dark.
I am sorry for the ones that are having a bad time. In times of stress, I found reading a good book until really tired helped.

seventyminutes · 16/12/2021 23:27

@ghostmouse I'm sorry to hear that, my thoughts and comforts are with you

@bloodywhitecat same to you, I'm sorry to hear of your DH. All the best to you

Bobsyer · 16/12/2021 23:29

I can sleep under practically any circumstances - I used to have insomnia as a teenager but nowadays I am generally asleep within 5 minutes of closing my eyes.

If I'm going to bed I have to read before I go to sleep, but that can be less than a paragraph if I'm tired. It's just habit now really. If I'm napping - I could probably nod off standing up tbh.

HammerToFall · 16/12/2021 23:35

audio books for me couldn't sleep
without them and put them on of
i wake in the night. stops
me thinking about shit

ALongHardWinter · 16/12/2021 23:50

I find it difficult,if not impossible to fall asleep without my radio on quietly,on a talk station.

MarmitesMyMate · 16/12/2021 23:52

Silence and dark.
Occasionally on the mornings dd gets in our bed and watches a bit of Netflix on tablet while we have 10 min to wake up if had a bad night with the other one . On first notch volume and It makes me feel headachey hate any noise in the house.
But we live near a main road and occasionally hearing then odd bit of traffic relaxes me. Because the noise isn't indoors!

MarmitesMyMate · 16/12/2021 23:54

But I used to sleep with Friends playing on the VHS! And I'd wake to the fuzzy end screen. But now it's silence. Funny how we chsnge

Redglitter · 16/12/2021 23:55

I've got a white noise machine. I love it. I either have it set to waves lapping on the beach or heavy rain and thunder. I cant sleep in silence at all

Furries · 17/12/2021 00:25

I hate any noise at night - ticking clocks being one of the most annoying, I just can’t block it out.

There is only one sound that I like - and it’s the one that helps me drift off eventually. And that is my awesome cat, curled up next to me, purring away to his hearts content. It’s the only noise I can tolerate at night and I’d be lost without it!

Bloodybridget · 17/12/2021 04:44

In bed, I aim for as silent as possible, but I can easily fall asleep in front of the television!

Atmywitsend29 · 17/12/2021 04:46

I make all the pillows into a V shape and snuggle right in the middle of the bed. Blackout curtains. Normally have the outside noises. I work nights so sleep in the day.

DH used to laugh at me about the pillow thing but he can't enough of the V shape when I'm on shift

workworkworkugh · 17/12/2021 04:50

I prefer some minor noise, like rain or the fan but can't do audio books or sleep sounds.

This is also going to out myself as extremely weird haha but I absolutely cannot sleep when DH and I go to bed at the same time and it's dead silent and I know he's still awake but not talking as he's trying to go to sleep and he knows I'm awake and so we're just laying they're both awake but not acknowledging it?
To me it's so awkward and we've been together for 20 years!
I never used to feel like this, so it's a pretty recent thing.
Luckily DH can fall asleep within 5 seconds so I'm not waiting too long

twosticksandanapple · 17/12/2021 04:57

I usually listen to the archers. It seems to put me to sleep in less than 5 minutes.

Bussinbussin · 17/12/2021 05:00

I used to love silence but it seems to be unachievable where I live, so I've gone for a fan year round, and an audiobook going if I'm sleeping alone.

Audible has sleep stories that are really bland so you don't get too caught up in the storyline.

Mother87 · 17/12/2021 08:03

Fan all year round (got a reconditioned Dyson on ebay) & something on spotify like tropical rain forest/Chinese love songs (from nice childhood memories - but also makes me sad😬)/some hypnotherapy sleepy stuff...

Mother87 · 17/12/2021 08:04

@yougottasmilesobright

Industrial ear plugs and CBD oil

Which earplugs? Are they comfy?

Mother87 · 17/12/2021 08:05

@bloodywhitecat

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.

Just a hug and

Original poster

Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 17/12/2021 20:36

Mines a guilty one...I fell asleep listening to the 90s Sabrina the teenage witch last night...it took me back and was so comforting. Maybe I have underlying issues lol X

OP posts:

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