4 ms·

I'm exactly the same, only I've done it ever since I was very little and it simply never went away (I'm in my early 20s now). Usually I'm awake in my bed for a

by float4 6y ago

I'm exactly the same, only I've done it ever since I was very little and it simply never went away (I'm in my early 20s now). Usually I'm awake in my bed for at least an hour. Sometimes two. I just really can't stop thinking. It's not anxiety in my case. Any people here who were in a similar situation and were able to get rid of it, or make significant improvement?

Jtsummers 6y ago
Physical exercise after work, cut out screen time a couple hours before you want to sleep (especially engaging screen time), consider cutting off caffeine earlier in the day (or totally for a while and ease back in), get treated for anxiety (not necessarily medication, therapy techniques like CBT can help in a wide variety of areas). The biggest one for me was physical exercise. Working out hard for 1-3 hours after work (most people can't put in 3 hours, I know) left me sufficiently physically exhausted that whatever mentally engaging activities I got into later, I was crashing by midnight no matter what. Doing this after work was also critical as it helped create a clean break from work (where many stressful or technically engaging thoughts come from for me). Exercising in the morning did not have the same effect.
kajecounterhack 6y ago
Aside from (mostly) practicing normal sleep hygiene recommendations, I listen to a sitcom that I've already watched many times using wireless earbuds as I fall asleep. Sometimes I do both ears, somtimes one ear, depending on whether I feel like sleeping with my head turned. I'm normally a back sleeper. Because I've already seen the episodes, they don't stimulate any thinking. They're comedy, so all happy and lighthearted. Well written comedy is funny on multiple-goarounds, but other than some chuckles the point is mostly to help me fall asleep happy. On a bad night I'll listen to two episodes, but mostly I'm asleep halfway through the first episode. My go to shows fwiw are It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The Office. Parks and Recreation also works. It's OK to have plot, as long as you already know the plot / have seen the show enough, so you aren't trying to watch the episode. Since some of these shows moved off Netflix I've had to buy them on Google Play store. FWIW Google Play's player is better than amazon video's for mobile (it's basically youtube's player). The wireless earbuds I use are these: $35, https://www.amazon.com/Soundcore-Bluetooth-Headphones-Waterproof-Sweatproof/dp/B07WPFPP5C https://www.amazon.com/Soundcore-Bluetooth-Headphones-Waterp... and they're connected by a cord so you don't lose one of the buds when you sleep (used to happen to me). I have two sets of earbuds now, because I really struggle to sleep without it now that it's part of my routine and I can't risk them not being charged.
- hnick 6y ago
  Thanks for the earbud recommendation. I was talking to my mother about the Sleep With Me podcast (she hates it but she's extremely picky) and I realised I need something wireless if I'll ever listen to something like that in bed.
  - tcoff91 6y ago
    Under-pillow speakers are decent if you are a side sleeper. It’s nice not having something in your ears all night.
seankimdesign 6y ago
I've been dealing with a similar condition for a while. I've learned that it's impossible for me to "not think". Any attempts at emptying my head will only invite more anxieties and problems to be solved. Instead, I've learned to fill it with trivial, creative challenges that occupy keep my brain busy enough to ward off negative thoughts yet introduce no stakes. Some examples include: - If I found myself stranded on an island, what kinds of challenges would I have to overcome and how? - If I could improve the magic system of Harry Potter, what changes would I introduce? - If I were given a device that I could use to turn back the time to 6 am once everyday, how could I use it to my best advantage while avoiding any pitfalls? - If I were given a small 12x12x12 room with an unlimited budget to create a living space for me to be confined in, how would I use that space? These would be the kinds of things that I could think about for a while before finding myself fast asleep. Not sure if this would work for anyone else, but maybe you can give it a try?
- hnick 6y ago
  Funnily enough these are the exact kind of thoughts that keep me up. I get really into it and can't let go of consciousness. Technical or problem solving are the worst for it. Brains sure are different and weird across us all.
- RancidChocolate 6y ago
  I agree, it's nearly impossible to stop thinking on a dime. What you ignore gets invited back into your head. If I try not to think of a pink elephant, it only reinforces that image in my head. I found that tiring it out through a diverse set of means is the only way to drain the gas, so to speak. I also watch/read/listen to dreadfully boring media to mentally tune out.
- coryrc 6y ago
  Get away from computers for three days. Camp in the woods. I guarantee it will be easier to quiet down your mind.
- patrickdavey 6y ago
  Speaking of the Harry Potter system.. have you come across http://www.hpmor.com/ http://www.hpmor.com/ (Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality)? If not, I can guarantee* you'll enjoy it. * as much as anything can be guaranteed anyway ;)
cocoto 6y ago
I was in the exact same situation when I was a kid, I could stay awake in my bed for hours. It was extremely frustrating waking my mother at 3am to tell her that I can’t fall asleep. Nowadays, in my early 20s I can basically fall asleep in less than 3 minutes. I have no clue how this condition disappeared from my life. At least for me physical activity was not a factor in this condition, maybe I’m eating healthier than before (less sugar).
- imtringued 6y ago
  I can trivially explain my own situation. There is a random event or deadline that forces me to stay awake until 2AM. I am slightly sleepy 30 min before midnight. I push through to 0:30 after midnight and then the sleepiness starts going away until it comes back at 2AM. The next day my sleep cycle is now offset by 1 or 2 hours and I can no longer fall asleep at midnight. It takes a week of consistent bed time to create a consistent time to fall asleep again. Since I am fully aware of how my sleep cycle works my only conclusion is: I hate EXTERNAL EVENT.
akeck 6y ago
I get that way sometimes. For me, it's usually because I'm not physically tired enough and have a lot of stress in my system. Rowing 7-10 10km pieces over two weeks fixes it.
dhumph 6y ago
Solitaire works for me.
aerospace_guy 6y ago
Try meditation. Control your mind.
wruza 6y ago
Usually I'm awake in my bed for at least an hour. Sometimes two Huh, lucky one. Some stay awake until morning. I know that some people find it strange or even perverted, but try listening to ASMR. First find an artist and a specific 1-2h long video that calms your mind at day while you work or read, and then use it for going to sleep (use comfortable earbuds). They have special videos for sleep, but you may use any of them. You’ll skip a handful of artists and asmr types before you find that one, so be patient. Also try languages you don’t speak (french, chinese). Top, “general purpose” artists is a good start. Also use browser youtube version and adblock that surely blocks youtube ads, or they will jumpscare you, and turn off autoplay.
- vorpalhex 6y ago
  You can also use ASMR podcasts, many of which are ad-free (though ask for donations) and are easier to quietly loop through the night for as long as you need. I found a few that actually read bedtime stories.
vorpalhex 6y ago
Engagement, exercise and melatonin. Be engaged during the day. Use that mental energy. Whatever that means, but challenge yourself and exhaust yourself. Exercise which is just generally really good for your mental and physical state. Do note that working out later at night can make the problem worse since exercises also causes stress chemicals in your brain and it takes a few hours for those to clear. Melatonin[1] an hour before bed. It's safe, non-habit forming, dirt cheap, very mild and surprisingly effective in my experience. I take it as needed instead of every night, but I know a few folks take it every night. [1] - https://slatestarcodex.com/2018/07/10/melatonin-much-more-than-you-wanted-to-know/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2018/07/10/melatonin-much-more-th...
- hnick 6y ago
  I tried melatonin a couple of times and it didn't seem to help. Note also it's not available OTC here in Australia (except in the useless homeopathic form) you need a prescription, but you can bring it back from overseas if you like. Which is a little annoying. They're working on making CBD oil available (also not currently) OTC) but not melatonin unless I missed that.
  - vorpalhex 6y ago
    Huh, I'm actually surprised it's not OTC in Australia. Any idea why it's not widely available? I haven't tried CBD oil at all (save one time I accidentally got a canned coffee with cbd added to it). I have one friend who reports positive effects but doesn't use it consistently.
killtimeatwork 6y ago
60-90 minutes of walking after work, without using any devices during the walk. Makes a big difference for how sleepy I am later.
hderms 6y ago
I often get symptoms like this if I am working on/thinking about highly technical things past about 8 PM. I feel like the pace and energy level of what I'm doing is a contributing factor, as I've found reading technical books rarely causes it.

by float4 6y ago

Jtsummers 6y ago

Physical exercise after work, cut out screen time a couple hours before you want to sleep (especially engaging screen time), consider cutting off caffeine earlier in the day (or totally for a while and ease back in), get treated for anxiety (not necessarily medication, therapy techniques like CBT can help in a wide variety of areas). The biggest one for me was physical exercise. Working out hard for 1-3 hours after work (most people can't put in 3 hours, I know) left me sufficiently physically exhausted that whatever mentally engaging activities I got into later, I was crashing by midnight no matter what. Doing this after work was also critical as it helped create a clean break from work (where many stressful or technically engaging thoughts come from for me). Exercising in the morning did not have the same effect.

kajecounterhack 6y ago

Aside from (mostly) practicing normal sleep hygiene recommendations, I listen to a sitcom that I've already watched many times using wireless earbuds as I fall asleep. Sometimes I do both ears, somtimes one ear, depending on whether I feel like sleeping with my head turned. I'm normally a back sleeper. Because I've already seen the episodes, they don't stimulate any thinking. They're comedy, so all happy and lighthearted. Well written comedy is funny on multiple-goarounds, but other than some chuckles the point is mostly to help me fall asleep happy. On a bad night I'll listen to two episodes, but mostly I'm asleep halfway through the first episode. My go to shows fwiw are It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The Office. Parks and Recreation also works. It's OK to have plot, as long as you already know the plot / have seen the show enough, so you aren't trying to watch the episode. Since some of these shows moved off Netflix I've had to buy them on Google Play store. FWIW Google Play's player is better than amazon video's for mobile (it's basically youtube's player). The wireless earbuds I use are these: $35, https://www.amazon.com/Soundcore-Bluetooth-Headphones-Waterproof-Sweatproof/dp/B07WPFPP5C https://www.amazon.com/Soundcore-Bluetooth-Headphones-Waterp... and they're connected by a cord so you don't lose one of the buds when you sleep (used to happen to me). I have two sets of earbuds now, because I really struggle to sleep without it now that it's part of my routine and I can't risk them not being charged.

hnick 6y ago
Thanks for the earbud recommendation. I was talking to my mother about the Sleep With Me podcast (she hates it but she's extremely picky) and I realised I need something wireless if I'll ever listen to something like that in bed.
- tcoff91 6y ago
  Under-pillow speakers are decent if you are a side sleeper. It’s nice not having something in your ears all night.

seankimdesign 6y ago

I've been dealing with a similar condition for a while. I've learned that it's impossible for me to "not think". Any attempts at emptying my head will only invite more anxieties and problems to be solved. Instead, I've learned to fill it with trivial, creative challenges that occupy keep my brain busy enough to ward off negative thoughts yet introduce no stakes. Some examples include: - If I found myself stranded on an island, what kinds of challenges would I have to overcome and how? - If I could improve the magic system of Harry Potter, what changes would I introduce? - If I were given a device that I could use to turn back the time to 6 am once everyday, how could I use it to my best advantage while avoiding any pitfalls? - If I were given a small 12x12x12 room with an unlimited budget to create a living space for me to be confined in, how would I use that space? These would be the kinds of things that I could think about for a while before finding myself fast asleep. Not sure if this would work for anyone else, but maybe you can give it a try?

hnick 6y ago
Funnily enough these are the exact kind of thoughts that keep me up. I get really into it and can't let go of consciousness. Technical or problem solving are the worst for it. Brains sure are different and weird across us all.
RancidChocolate 6y ago
I agree, it's nearly impossible to stop thinking on a dime. What you ignore gets invited back into your head. If I try not to think of a pink elephant, it only reinforces that image in my head. I found that tiring it out through a diverse set of means is the only way to drain the gas, so to speak. I also watch/read/listen to dreadfully boring media to mentally tune out.
coryrc 6y ago
Get away from computers for three days. Camp in the woods. I guarantee it will be easier to quiet down your mind.
patrickdavey 6y ago
Speaking of the Harry Potter system.. have you come across http://www.hpmor.com/ http://www.hpmor.com/ (Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality)? If not, I can guarantee* you'll enjoy it. * as much as anything can be guaranteed anyway ;)

cocoto 6y ago

I was in the exact same situation when I was a kid, I could stay awake in my bed for hours. It was extremely frustrating waking my mother at 3am to tell her that I can’t fall asleep. Nowadays, in my early 20s I can basically fall asleep in less than 3 minutes. I have no clue how this condition disappeared from my life. At least for me physical activity was not a factor in this condition, maybe I’m eating healthier than before (less sugar).

imtringued 6y ago
I can trivially explain my own situation. There is a random event or deadline that forces me to stay awake until 2AM. I am slightly sleepy 30 min before midnight. I push through to 0:30 after midnight and then the sleepiness starts going away until it comes back at 2AM. The next day my sleep cycle is now offset by 1 or 2 hours and I can no longer fall asleep at midnight. It takes a week of consistent bed time to create a consistent time to fall asleep again. Since I am fully aware of how my sleep cycle works my only conclusion is: I hate EXTERNAL EVENT.

akeck 6y ago

I get that way sometimes. For me, it's usually because I'm not physically tired enough and have a lot of stress in my system. Rowing 7-10 10km pieces over two weeks fixes it.

dhumph 6y ago

Solitaire works for me.

aerospace_guy 6y ago

Try meditation. Control your mind.

wruza 6y ago

Usually I'm awake in my bed for at least an hour. Sometimes two Huh, lucky one. Some stay awake until morning. I know that some people find it strange or even perverted, but try listening to ASMR. First find an artist and a specific 1-2h long video that calms your mind at day while you work or read, and then use it for going to sleep (use comfortable earbuds). They have special videos for sleep, but you may use any of them. You’ll skip a handful of artists and asmr types before you find that one, so be patient. Also try languages you don’t speak (french, chinese). Top, “general purpose” artists is a good start. Also use browser youtube version and adblock that surely blocks youtube ads, or they will jumpscare you, and turn off autoplay.

vorpalhex 6y ago
You can also use ASMR podcasts, many of which are ad-free (though ask for donations) and are easier to quietly loop through the night for as long as you need. I found a few that actually read bedtime stories.

vorpalhex 6y ago

Engagement, exercise and melatonin. Be engaged during the day. Use that mental energy. Whatever that means, but challenge yourself and exhaust yourself. Exercise which is just generally really good for your mental and physical state. Do note that working out later at night can make the problem worse since exercises also causes stress chemicals in your brain and it takes a few hours for those to clear. Melatonin[1] an hour before bed. It's safe, non-habit forming, dirt cheap, very mild and surprisingly effective in my experience. I take it as needed instead of every night, but I know a few folks take it every night. [1] - https://slatestarcodex.com/2018/07/10/melatonin-much-more-than-you-wanted-to-know/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2018/07/10/melatonin-much-more-th...

hnick 6y ago
I tried melatonin a couple of times and it didn't seem to help. Note also it's not available OTC here in Australia (except in the useless homeopathic form) you need a prescription, but you can bring it back from overseas if you like. Which is a little annoying. They're working on making CBD oil available (also not currently) OTC) but not melatonin unless I missed that.
- vorpalhex 6y ago
  Huh, I'm actually surprised it's not OTC in Australia. Any idea why it's not widely available? I haven't tried CBD oil at all (save one time I accidentally got a canned coffee with cbd added to it). I have one friend who reports positive effects but doesn't use it consistently.

killtimeatwork 6y ago

60-90 minutes of walking after work, without using any devices during the walk. Makes a big difference for how sleepy I am later.

hderms 6y ago

I often get symptoms like this if I am working on/thinking about highly technical things past about 8 PM. I feel like the pace and energy level of what I'm doing is a contributing factor, as I've found reading technical books rarely causes it.