Insomnia

[Mum233]

I’m losing my mind…I haven’t slept yet and now counting down the time until I have to go to work ( I start at 7.30). Aarrghhh!
I’ve tried everything I can think of but can’t get to sleep. Having a mental health bad patch at the moment and lots going on.
Any tips?

No tips sorry, but you aren't alone I would also love to be able to switch off and sleep

Try not to let it stress you out. Tell yourself that you'll make up for it tomorrow night.

Shit, isnt it?

Me too. It's brutal

I’m sure you’ll have tried it already but a podcast to have something to take your mind off whatever else is going on?

I am constantly recommending ‘Nothing Much Happens’ to people - they’re just stories about nothing but you can’t help but picture it all in your head and before you know it you’re off. Or a boring audiobook that won’t grip you too much.

There’s nothing worse than not being able to sleep. I’m struggling myself just now, hence replying to your post at 03.24!

Got to sleep at 4.30 and was woken at 6am 😬
Going to be a long day. When my normal methods don’t work I don’t know what to do! Thank you for your replies x

I used to have insomnia when under extra stress.

I found that it was my brain refusing to stop 'worrying' about whatever was worrying me at the time.

The only thing that eventually worked for me was to deliberately think about winning the lottery

I had to force myself to concentrate on nothing except the 'practicalities' of winning the lottery i.e
When would I go to their offices with my winning ticket ?
What would I need to take with me ?
Who would I see there ?
Would I tell my DH ? Or surprise him afterwards ?
Would I tell my kids ?
What amount(s) of money would I give and to whom?
What tax might I need to pay on these cash 'gifts' ?
Would I need to move the money out of the UK for tax reasons ?
What would I buy first ?
Would I prefer to buy or build a new home ?

I would go into great detail ! And I would stubbornly 'push out' any other 'thoughts' that tried to 'pop up'.

Eventually, I got very good at it, and I would be able to fall asleep much faster and easier because my mind was full of ''nice problems'' to have, rather than RL worries. I also found the sleep I did get, was far more 'refreshing' too.

I recite the phonetic alphabet (all this is in my head) and then do it backwards. Then I sound out all our names phonetically and, if I'm still awake, I construct little sentences in it. God it's boring but concentrates the mind to stop other stuff surfacing.