Does anyone else do this in order to fall asleep?

[ldontWanna]

I need (and I do mean need) to roleplay in my head before I go to sleep. A bit like a bedtime story. Mostly inspired from whatever book or tv show I'm currently reading/watching . When I have a bad night's sleep/can't fall asleep it's normally because my brain is buzzing so I can't focus on the "story" and keep coming out of it. Even when I'm exhausted I still do it but it might only take a few minutes before I drift off. Reading or listening to something before bed is not enough.

It came up today when talking to a friend and she said it was really weird and has never heard of it. She's the head on pillow , fast asleep type though.

So any others that need to do this to fall asleep?

I have all sorts of stories and scenarios go through my head before I drift off to sleep. I have asd and anxiety and taking a beta blockers before bed helps enormously if my scenarios are making me anxious.

Yep me, I've done ut fir as long as I can remember!

Me too.

I go for a walk I my head somewhere familiar. Last night it was a theme park where we used to have a season park. Good memories there too

I play that I have an endless budget but can't move house and do all the dreamy fixing up in my mind-such a treat!

Always done this. I tend to have one or two different stories on the go to choose from

Yes, I do this sort of thing a lot.

Sometimes it is reliving experiences from my past, either exactly as they were, or giving them an ‘alternative ending’ or considering them from the perspective of someone else in the situation.

Or sometimes, I am ‘playing a scene’ in my head from a book or film (can be fiction or non-fiction) and positioning myself as one of the characters.

Oh yes, although I’m usually thinking about all the things I do in the garden or to the house if I had the money.

My youngest DC needs to make up a story in order to fall asleep. My DH says as a child he used to replay Star Wars or any other favourite film scene by scene in order to fall asleep, and will still do it now if he’s struggling to drop off. I think it’s not uncommon.

I do this too! I've never admitted it as I thought it was a bit weird. I have little stories and scenarios that I go through in my head, the familiarity and predictability of it always puts me to sleep.

Yes I have done thus since I was a child.

I don't but might try it? I play a word game on my phone.

Yep I’ve always done this, though as I get older I get less imaginative. When I was little I used to make up cartoons, such as Tom and Jerry episodes, in my head. My older sister, who I shared a bedroom with, was always telling me to shut up because I spent my whole time giggling before falling asleep.

Yes I've always done this.

DH thinks about his alternative life as a Wimbledon champion apparently!

I usually makeover my own or others' houses with a huge budget and one (as a student) decided how I would clean my then boyfriend's utterly disgusting shared student house. The first thing was always putting on a protective suit in that one all very satisfying.

I tend to watch or read (or more often audible) something, and then I'll do a bit of research on what it's made me think about, and then I will have like a fantasy/story combining the media and what I learned through the research. It could be a werewolf love story or a love story in a Russian court or something. Really depends what I've been reading or watching. Sometimes it will be about a location. Eg. The Bahamas. And I'll read about the food, the climate, the best resorts, the history, etc. And then just fall asleep imagining it all.

If I replay past events or life stuff is not enough and normally makes me anxious or hyper which defies the purpose.

The stories help to wind me down and be all relaxed. I actually fall asleep during them without even realising I drifted off.Normally it'll be a continuation of whatever I'm reading or an alternative narrative. I "play" as myself but fit myself into the story.

If it gets disrupted or I can't focus enough on it then I can't fall asleep and just toss and turn. Can't really get back to it either as it's "ruined" and I'm too conscious of making an effort to do it. Sleep eludes me on those nights.

DH thinks about his alternative life as a Wimbledon champion apparently!

My DH admitted to doing exactly this! He plays out matches in his head with all the top players, who are his idols. He wins, of course 😂

Yes, in my story whoever I am being goes to sleep in my head thats the only way I can sleep.

@waterlego

DH thinks about his alternative life as a Wimbledon champion apparently!

My DH admitted to doing exactly this! He plays out matches in his head with all the top players, who are his idols. He wins, of course 😂

Of course!

I do it as a fantasy role play where i'm having an illicit affair with a different hot celebrity each time. You'd think i'd get really hyped up but it actually switches my brain off from all the other stresses of life and i fall asleep!

I think about things I'm looking forward to.

So I'm having some lessons in a hobby at the mlment so I replay my lesson and think about the next.

But it could be a holiday, some lovely shopping, or just thinking about how warm and cosy I am.

I'm asleep in seconds usually.

It’s a form of maladaptive day dreaming

Yep, it's usually house renovation or decorating or going to Disney world with the kids.

yes