Do You Experience Sleep Anxiety?
Do you feel like your mind is always busy just before falling asleep, and anxiety is taking control over you? Maybe you’re thinking about all the events of the day as you begin winding down, maybe your stress comes from your worries related to your family, job, possibly your finances or fear of what tomorrow might bring.
In my experiences with sleep anxiety, I always found it extremely hard to completely empty my mind of all the small details just long enough so I could get a good nights rest, and maybe you’re feeling the same way right now. Many times for me this lead to turning and tossing as the mental tennis match in my mind kept going back and forth as I tossed and turned continuously.
There Are A Few Different Ways To Reduce Sleep Stress Long Enough To Allow For Restful Sleep
The main key here is to find a system that works for you. The ultimate goal is of course to clear the anxious mind and begin consciously recognizing that tomorrow is the time to worry about the problems in your mind, not tonight because tonight it’s time to sleep.
Combating Sleep Anxiety Technique #1
Begin practicing writing down every single worry and concern you have just before you lay your head down to sleep. Remember to keep a notebook or tiny pad available bedside for this very important purpose. In point form, begin listing the things that is causing your sleep anxiety, and make a note on your pad of which worries you can deal with tomorrow (hopefully all). Your worry list will erase the mental chatter going on in your mind, if you truly convince yourself that tonight is not the time for these worries.
Now comes the crucial part to stopping sleep anxiety:
After you’ve written out your worry list, close your notebook and begin taking a few minutes to remind yourself that you won’t be thinking of these worries until tomorrow. During the night if you catch yourself in the sleep anxiety cycle again, sit tall and firmly and begin reminding yourself again that tonight is all about restful sleep not a time to worry.
With Consistency Your Internal Computer (Your Mind) Will Begin A New Path When Sleep Time Comes Up
Combating Sleep Anxiety Technique #2
Keep a daily diary that includes all your fears and anxieties along with the events of your day. The ultimate goal of your daily diary is to actualize all your feelings into writing form, so that when night time approaches you can be free of them. As simple as this technique is, it takes consistent keeping up but can be used as a powerful tool to stop sleep anxiety once and for all.
No matter what the tool or technique, the ultimate goal is to begin to relax and prepare for a good night’s sleep.
