I'm stressed out and when I try to go to sleep I can't shut off my thoughts. What should I do?

So i'm hearing that you find it difficult to switch of your thoughts when your trying to sleep. Tell me what your nighttime routine is like? I was also wondering if you have read our guide on sleeping well? There is a lot of information in their that some people may find helpful in regards to sleeping better. Tell me more about the kind of thoughts that enter your head when your trying to sleep.

I'm really familiar to this problem! What's useful for me is: close my eyes, imagine a room. It's a special room, looks like an interrogation room or something like that - there's a window to look in, but from inside it's a mirror. The room is completely soundproofed, so you cannot hear anything from inside. And there's no way to get out - the door opens only from outside. I focus hard on details - how does the room look, which special features does it have to get more secure, and so on. Finally I walk inside with all my thoughts - leave them inside, walk out and close the door. Now I can decide to watch them from outside, or I can just leave them for a while. This imagination really works well for my - I hope it's a bit useful for you! All the best, Emma

You can try using a mantra. When you lay down to go to sleep, simply practice some deep breathing, and say to yourself over and over, "I am going to sleep well tonight. I am going to feel rested when I wake up in the morning."

Try writing out your thoughts and the issues they concern on paper so that you can reread them in the morning.

I would suggest seeking help from a certified professional. If anxiety is causing these problems, look to the 7 Cups Of Tea Anxiety page.

Try to avoid caffeine before you sleep, it can keep you awake! Also, staying away from screens of any type will help your brain relax. Try not to be hungry, but not too full when you sleep, and try to keep all distractions away from your bed.

Try writing down your thoughts. It may help you get things off your chest and allow you to sleep more easily

Try to do something relaxing, something you enjoy. Like listening to music or reading. Even drawing could help.

Try drinking Chamomile tea or milk before you go to bed. Exercise a few hours previously can be helpful. Try reading a book - that usually gets people sleepy.

I know I've been there. The things the help me are mediation/breathing exercises or falling asleep to white noise or even Netflix or music. It helps me stop thinking and distracts me. Might be worth a try. Hope this helps

I used to struggle with insomnia and getting my thoughts to shut off a lot growing up. I found the trick wasn't turning off your thoughts, but thinking about something that wasn't stressful instead. Immersing yourself in some kind of fantasy or scenario that was peaceful and enveloping. A particular favorite show of mine when I was younger was Avatar: The Last Airbender, so when I couldn't shut off my thoughts, I instead became a character in that show. I imagined myself as a waterbender. I imagined myself soaring through the sky and I imagined myself being somewhere where my normal problems didn't apply. I did this every night for a few and it served me well.

There are a bunch of different things you can try - I'd suggest looking at the anxiety and sleeping well guides - but the biggest thing is to just relax. Listen to a relaxation recording (imagery, or the muscle relaxation ones), try chamomile tea, lavender-scented things, things like that. The muscle relaxation works especially well for me, it makes me focus on small parts of my body and releasing their tension. I usually fall asleep before I've made it through my whole body, even when I'm really stressed. These techniques do take practice though, so don't give up if it doesn't work the first few times. Talking to somebody can also help, so feel free to come on 7cups at any time. Screens can keep you up longer, so download an app or computer program (try flux) that will filter out blue light - which will keep you up - and dim your screen to an appropriate level.

Sleep difficulties was also part of my life, whenever I have a stressful phase or situation. However, I managed to overcome my sleep difficulties with aromatherapy which is referred to as essential oil therapy. I tried the lavender scented essential oil before bedtime and it really helped me to relax my stressed out mind. Besides that, meditation on a soothing therapeutic music just half and hour before bedtime really helps to unwind. Been doing it for months and I can see a vast difference in my sleep troubles.

If you are stressed out due to daily activities and can not concentrate , Start writing diary before sleeping, give your worries a way out and express it in words ...close it and sleep peacefully......or you can just quietly and meditate...Do Pranayam(Yoga ) bfr sleeping.

Personally I would try and listen to something calming or focusing on a thought. Often times that has helped me, but you could also try reading yourself to sleep. Hopefully you can find something to help.

Try to relax by letting everything go. Try doing yoga or physical activity to "shake it off". Also try and listen to calm/relaxing music :) Best of luck.

When this happens to me, I normally put music on in my headphones and it is all I can hear, I put it on a low volume. I even made a playlist for bed of just my favourite songs, it helps me a lot and it shuts of any thoughts. :)

When I feel that way, I usually play some music or read because it narrows my thoughts to one thing.

Read a book or do something else for some minutes before sleep which can make you forget about your thoughts. Try to think about something which doesnt stress you or go to sleep and try to make up a story in order not to think about the thoughts that stress you.