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.