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Why can't my mind stop thinking when I'm trying to sleep?

249 Answers
Last Updated: 09/04/2021 at 6:28am
Why can't my mind stop thinking when I'm trying to sleep?
★ This question about Sleeping Well was starred by a moderator on 5/12/2016.
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Ta Tania
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Alex DS Ellis, MA, LMFT

Marriage & Family Therapist

Feeling depressed or anxious can be so overwhelming. I want to help you feel better and be able to enjoy life. You are not alone and you deserve emotional support.

Top Rated Answers
lexieejolleen
January 29th, 2016 4:10am
Here try this. When you lie down to go to sleep think about the number 100, then start counting backwards most people fall asleep before they even hit 50.
igetcha
January 31st, 2016 4:24am
Getting away from the busy outside world gives your thoughts room to surface. Personally it helps to listen to music or watch TV before bed to give me something light to think about rather than cycles of obsessive thoughts.
Anonymous
January 31st, 2016 2:55pm
This is a result of your cluttered brain and you should try thinking of one thing only and go to sleep.
BlackSwan10
January 31st, 2016 9:47pm
Your mind is thinking on a regular basis. Throughout the day, you get distracted enough to not fully pay attention. During sleeptime, it's quiet and usually dark ... Which leaves you with nothing to hear but your thoughts. And you being alone with your thoughts doesn't always have to be destructive or mind-wrecking, sometimes you need to listen to yourself.
Anonymous
February 3rd, 2016 7:49pm
I believe that we tend to think even more at night time because it's so quiet that you lose yourself to your mind. I think that some music would help in stopping that, still depending on your mood. If you are feeling down, depressed, distressed,anxious etc.. I believe that talking about what you're thinking instead of bottling it up would help you sleep.
Arakhthanda
February 12th, 2016 4:14am
The reason that the mind started to think is first because you created a ripple or an event that happened in your life that causes you to think and puts more efforts into it. This was what happened in people with anxiety where they felt anxious that something is going to happen to them or someone is thinking about a stressful situation that they don't know how they get by. If you felt this way, please talk to someone or to a professional counselor that can get you the help needed.
SingingPhoenix
March 10th, 2016 4:22am
Seems like days are long and busy enough. But when I lay down to sleep, my mind won't stop thinking. So I end up tossing and turning until such time sleep finally claims me. Then it's the same thing over again.
Sups
March 10th, 2016 4:38am
Because you are not worried about other stuff that you usually do during the day so your brain is focused on what you are thinking.
RationalMe7
September 4th, 2021 6:28am
I am sorry that you had to go through this. The mind is restless by its nature. It has the capability to jump around from one thing to the other. Trying to sleep is a difficult thing. You need to first analyze why you aren’t able to fall asleep. Maybe something is really bothering you and making you feel depressed/anxious. In such cases, it would be wise to visit a registered mental health professional who can help you. Practicing meditation and mindfulness will be a good addition to your treatment. They help you to gain more control over yourself.