It’s quite common for your mind to wander right when you’re about to sleep, usually, it’s nothing to be worried about. It does, however, become a problem if it happens every day. Note that millions of people around the world suffer from sleep anxiety, and this is normally due to a variety of issues.
If you’ve been having trouble sleeping, then anxiety and stress will most likely compound this problem and turn you into a chronic insomniac. It sounds terminal, sure, but fortunately, there are ways you can use to help you relax and get that well deserved good night’s sleep.
Here are some solutions for sleeping problems at mattressgenius.com that may be useful.
Reduce Alcohol/Caffeine Intake
Ok, sure, that deserved one drink after a long day’s work won’t hurt, but the second and third one will. Caffeine does have a reputation as a sleep inhibitor, and alcohol has been known to increase heart rate.
You have to consider the fact that both are essentially liquids and the more you drink, the more likely you are to have interruptions in terms of bathroom breaks. Breaking the seal also has some truth to it in the sense that drinking a lot of alcohol may cause you to urinate more often.
Don’t Force It
Most times, anxiety is catalyzed by lying in bed trying to force yourself to sleep. This rarely ever works. If you are having trouble sleeping, or if you’ve been lying on your bed for more than 30 minutes, then try and find something to relax your mind and prevent it from wandering. It is advisable to try and read a book, perhaps listen to some slow soothing music.
Some people watch a movie as a way to wear their brains out, but this is not recommended as the light may have the exact opposite effect.
Condition Your Environment
Your brain receptors are very particular about optical stimuli. What this means is even the slightest bit of light in your bedroom can make it difficult to get any sleep. Other factors such as noise and temperature are also determiners. This is why you need to ensure your bedroom has blinds to keep out the light, is cool, not cold, and is quiet. Peace and quietness are the two most crucial points when trying to get a good night’s sleep.
Limit Stressful Thoughts
What many people don’t realize is the fact that 90% of the time, stressful thoughts are the cause of sleeping anxiety. When you get into bed and begin to focus on bills and all the problems you have, you are only making things worse. It is recommended that you make a list of all the things that need taking care of instead of trying to list them in your mind when you go to sleep.
Try a little meditation, a bit of alone time where you focus on other things. There is nothing quite as scary as being left alone, where your only company is your thoughts.
Exercise
Adding some kind of exercise regimen to your daily schedule has been known to work wonders for insomnia. You don’t have to go to the gym and bench press some ridiculous weights, not to worry, even a little jog or a regular walk can do the trick. Ensuring you have a simple workout plan is a good place to start, and it’s one of the easiest ways to clear your troubled mind.
Consult a specialist
Lastly, you ought to consider that your sleep anxiety may be a symptom of some deep-lying condition. If you’ve tried everything from meditation to soundproofing your bedroom, and nothing seems to work, then perhaps it’s time to see a specialist. Stress is one of the leading causes of depression, so perhaps you should look into it when all else fails.
Bottom Line
Sleep anxiety is a concern for many people around the world, and it’s a condition that affects productivity and causes a constant feeling of exhaustion. It is for this reason that it should be taken very seriously.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.