Postby cathybear » Wed Dec 07, 2016 1:59 am
Hi Chris,
I really struggle with sleeping too. I am so much of an over thinker so as soon as I switch my light off to sleep my brain starts going wild with anxieties or bad thoughts. My therapist recently suggested that I write down my thoughts that swirl around my brain throughout the day as they come to me or when they are bugging me most because then when I go to bed my brain knows that I have already thought of that particular thing and it doesn't need to take up space going in loops around my brain. And then when I have some time in the following few days and am feeling good enough I can go back to the list I have written down (which I am constantly adding to) and I can pick out a point or two and let myself think about it or try sort it out in my head in that set time, and then after that I can try let myself know that I have dealt with that particular worry or concern for the day.
I still am a bad sleeper but I have found that I feel somewhat less anxious when I try fall asleep. I have always liked writing and making lists, and by putting my thoughts to paper (I even just do bullet points that might not make sense to others!) I feel a bit more in control of what is trying to destroy me in my head.
How are you doing now? It sounds like you have had a lot of heavy things to deal with recently so it is completely understandable that you are feeling lower than usual. This time of year is always quite tricky too. Please let me know if you need anything. I would like to know how you are doing if you would be willing to share x