does your brain ever "shut off'"?

[Deleted]

Only when cleaning. Like, deep cleaning and organizing.

It's my favorite pastime.

[cc]

Feb 4, 2013 19:00:35 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Hello Xanax.

This exactly.

[stephm0188]

No. It's not even anxiety. I just can't stop thinking about things. Things I want to do, things I forgot, things I don't want to forget. And then that will lead to another thought, and then that one leads to another.

This is why I have to have the tv on while falling asleep. I know all the experts say it is bad, but it's better than the alternative of lying there thinking about random crap until 3am.

[midnightrae]

Nope. And I can't really relax either.

[Kit]

No. I have a hard time sleeping because of it sometimes. Thankfully my migraine meds help with that. My mind is always going. Its exhausting!

Sent from my Nexus 10 using proboards

[Deleted]

The only time that I ever felt my mind actually go blank is when I did a reiki session. I just kind of drifted out of awareness. It would come right back if she said anything, but then she would continue with the reiki, and my mind would just go blank. It was beautiful. I want to do it again. 

[jenna]

I was like that when I was pregnant - my mind would literally not stop thinking and worrying.  I took ambien for a couple of nights, and that helped me quite a bit.  I think I only took about 5.

After E's birth, I'm so tired, that I'm usually asleep by 10pm.  My day starts around 5:45.

[Bonita]

During the day my brain doesn't shut off easily - I'm constantly thinking of or doing something. At night though, that time is for sleep and that's what I do.

I kind of look at sleep as a non-negotiable item (along with eating, and working out of some sort), so I guess when it's bedtime for me I just see that time as it's time for sleep to recharge so I can be prepared for the next day - if there was/is anything left on my to-do list, then it gets pushed to the next day or whenever I can do it next.

[DotAndBuzz]

I find I make lists in my head of what I have to do/buy/coordinate/whatever. If I keep a pad of paper and pen next to my bed to write it out, that helps settle my mind before bed.

Otherwise, I just turn on the weather channel and can usually fall asleep to storm tracker central. I'm not even joking.

[chalupabatman]

I had this issue before I went on meds for anxiety. I can actually sit and watch tv or walk the dogs, relax and enjoy the moment. Which is HUGE

[Deleted]

I have to work out and be absolutely exhausted. Otherwise I shut off the TV, put down my phone and read a Book until I can fall asleep. If that doesn't work then it's Xanax time.

[gault]

Trazodone.

In high school it was so bad I would only be able to sleep for one or two hours a night, if that.  

Trazodone is the only thing that lets me have a deep and productive sleep (which is a very light antidepressant but is mostly used as a sleep aid).  If I don't take it I sleep lightly, wake up constantly, and can't shut my mind off.

[Deleted]

Oh yes.

[litebright]

Feb 4, 2013 19:52:55 GMT -5 KaraOrNot said:

Never. H and I just had a conversation about this recently. He can shut everything down and have no thoughts. I can't even imagine what that would be like.

This is my DH. It floors me. 

He can also just DECIDE not to worry about something. If he knows that he can't do anything to change something, or worrying won't help or change what he's already doing, he can just decide not to worry about whatever it is.  

This is unfathomable to me and I'm kind of jealous. How the hell do you just shut that off? It's antithetical to my life. 

Which is probably why I have problems sleeping, lol. 

[julesf84]

Rarely!

[peachykate]

I used to have this problem big time and it still pops up now and again when my anxiety acts up. My therapist sent me to a relaxation therapist who taught me how to meditate and control my breathing.

I also recently started taking lemon balm at night and it's really helped with my low level anxiety. I no longer take a daily medication, I was way too flat on them.

[jane6672]

Feb 4, 2013 19:10:01 GMT -5 rex said:

Never.

Sometimes I ask my H what he is thinking about when he is sitting and looks like he is thinking. He always says "I'm not thinking anything."

I DONT GET IT. I literally can never stop.

Yes! I don't understand how he can sit there with an empty mind!

However, he has no trouble falling asleep.

[blueballoon]

My mind races a lot during the day, but I have never ever had problems sleeping. Usually as soon as my head hits the pillow I'm out.

[jane6672]

Oh, and to answer the actual question:

I try to build some unwinding time into my bedtime routine, so I can read a little while in bed, or cuddle.

If I'm restless and unable to sleep, I'll get up and do some stretching, or go through a focused breathing routine while I relax one muscle at a time.



Sometimes, nothing helps.

[partiallysunny]

I think a lot, but I've never really had a problem falling asleep. I tend to "do too much" and wear myself out. If I have a problem falling asleep, the H will tickle my back or give me sex

[cc]

Reading before I go to sleep helps. I read until I can't keep my eyes open anymore. Then, as I am falling asleep, I will replay a happy memory in my head (like the day I had my kids) and I am usually out pretty quickly after that.

DH can fall asleep anytime, anywhere, and I hate him for it. lol