Can’t sleep as so anxious - escapism suggestions?

[Bythestrikeofthenight]

I’ve had a really unsettling couple of weeks with my mental health and still feeling very anxious. My DP also isn’t here tonight and I’m quite afraid to be alone.

I’d love to sleep but just can’t.

Can anyone recommend any shows that are pure escapism - ideally not involving crime, sexual assault or mental health (am usually open to any genre, but not right now.)

I’d usually be up for reading, but my mind is a bit scrambled.

Any other ideas that aren’t TV shows I’m also open to.

Thank you in advance.

Things like Vicat of Dibley

Pushing Daisies

I find learning poetry by heart helps me sleep. Keeps my mind from wandering down stressful paths. It’s been a while, but I’ve still got the first 2 or 3 verses of Jabberwocky and a couple of short poems stored away.

Hugh Fearnley Whittingtonstall stuff

Mr bean

Escape to the country

Monty don

Try this ...breath in slowly and say in your head 'calm'.....after a few seconds breath out and say in your head 'and relaxed'

Repeat this

Thank you for the lovely suggestions 🥰

I've been going through insomnia lately and find watching anything too interesting/ with a plot keeps me up later. What's been helping for me is a youtuber called Hannah Alonzo who reads out letters of people who have written in about their experiences in MLM companies. I know that's really random! But her voice is somehow very soothing and I find myself engaged with the stories and then nodding off.

Hey OP I like to watch different tours of abandoned buildings etc, there’s a great series on YouTube by a man called Dan Bell called ‘dead malls’ he tours dying and actually ‘dead’ shopping centres in America
sounds weird but you’ll get in to it once you watch it his voice is like velvet

Desperate housewives!

Emily in Paris on Netflix

Not anything to watch but would you consider a podcast?

If so, I’d recommend Nothing Much Happens. I’m also in the land of insomnia & this works a treat for me. I put this on, put an air pod in, roll over and get all cosy and, before long, I’ve nodded off. Her voice is very soporific.

Parks and Recreation
Schitts Creek
The Good Place

But if podcasts not your thing, I’d recommend watching something about gardening. Gardeners World, maybe? Lovely, calming watch with equally lovely presenters.

How about ASMR?

There are youtube videos and lots of accounts that do it on TikTok

My favourite is Moocrew ASMR

Another vote for Desperate Housewives - easy watching and there are 8 seasons so plenty of time to get invested with the characters and enjoy fun drama.

I love listening to Alan Watts. His voice was the most beautiful of voices. Some of the concepts he discusses get very complex & together with his voice they send me straight back to sleep. Works every time.

Detectorists on iplayer would be perfect OP.

Gentle and brilliant viewing.

Sorry you're feeling this way

Bob Ross painting.

I also struggle with insomnia OP, and my go to is the Simon Mayo Confessions podcast (on the Greatest Hits Radio website). The stories are funny and light, and I have not managed to stay awake through a full podcast yet!

I recommend the podcast Nothing Much Happens created and read by Katherine Nicolai. She reads out short, pretty mundane but pleasant enough stories. Her voice is smooth and soothing. I have not once managed to stay awake until the end of any of them. Also Alicia Fairclough for guided meditation. I was going through a very anxious period a few years back and she actually saved me - enabling me to relax and sleep.

Brooklyn 99
New Girl
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation
Scrubs

A Series of Extraordinary Events (Netflix). So comforting, but really funny, and it doesn't matter if you fall asleep and have to rewind.

Isle of Dogs (animation). It's so well done. On a long-haul flight once I kept dropping off and had to keep restarting it over and over.

Morning OP. Just wanted to say - you've got through the night, well done! Everything feels a little hopeful in the morning when it doesn't feel like you'll never sleep again

The big Bang theory!