Don't try to force sleep-related worries and thoughts from your mind when you can't sleep at night

YouTube Video VVVMNUxzTFVlVkEyal9Wc2w1NjI1c2hRLkpPLXlYbzJqVFQ0

Thoughts that create worry and anxiety make it hard to fall asleep at night. The worst thing you can do is try to prevent these thoughts from happening or try to force them from your mind. <br /><br />Trying to control (or prevent) thoughts will not be successful because you have to think of the thought you are trying to prevent in order to determine whether you are successfully not thinking about it! <br /><br />In addition, trying not to think about something — or trying to force thoughts from your mind — takes a lot of mental effort at a time when the mind should be relaxing and preparing for sleep.<br /><br />Related video: Why CBT-I is so effective when worry, anxiety, and a racing mind are fueling your chronic insomnia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FooE0_XW4_c<br /><br />Instead of trying to control your thoughts, accept that thoughts can't harm you and they will pass if you don't engage with them. Your thoughts and worries are like a powerful river — trying to stop them by jumping into the river to stem the flow is not going to work. However, if you stand on the bank and simply observe the water (your thoughts), you will soon come to realize that you are safe and the thoughts, like the flow of the river, will soon pass.<br /><br />It can also be helpful to schedule time during the day to examine your thoughts and worries so they are less likely to interrupt your sleep — more on that in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx9HEn6-LhI<br /><br />Bear in mind, too, that thoughts are not always accurate! So taking time to evaluate them can be very helpful — more on that in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu_9_1qypY8<br /><br />Finally, if you want to get really advanced, you can try actively welcoming these thoughts and worries — by doing this, you will remove all of their power.<br /><br />▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL5LsLUeVA2j_Vsl5625shQ?sub_confirmation=1<br /><br />My name is Martin Reed and I am the founder of Insomnia Coach®. I offer sleep coaching services that give people with insomnia all the skills and support they need to enjoy better sleep for the rest of their lives. I also offer a free two-week sleep training course for people with insomnia at https://insomniacoach.com/sleep-training/?ref=youtube051619<br /><br />You can also find me here:<br /><br />Website: https://insomniacoach.com<br />Twitter: https://twitter.com/insomniacoach<br />Facebook: https://facebook.com/insomniacoach<br />Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myinsomniacoach/<br /><br />All content found on the Insomnia Coach YouTube channel is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice or medical treatment and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or other licensed healthcare provider. All content is provided as is, and without warranties.<br /><br />#insomnia<br />#sleep<br />#mindfulness

Insomnia Coach 5K views May 16, 2019 11:14 pm

Thoughts that create worry and anxiety make it hard to fall asleep at night. The worst thing you can do is try to prevent these thoughts from happening or try to force them from your mind.

Trying to control (or prevent) thoughts will not be successful because you have to think of the thought you are trying to prevent in order to determine whether you are successfully not thinking about it!

In addition, trying not to think about something — or trying to force thoughts from your mind — takes a lot of mental effort at a time when the mind should be relaxing and preparing for sleep.

Related video: Why CBT-I is so effective when worry, anxiety, and a racing mind are fueling your chronic insomnia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FooE0_XW4_c

Instead of trying to control your thoughts, accept that thoughts can’t harm you and they will pass if you don’t engage with them. Your thoughts and worries are like a powerful river — trying to stop them by jumping into the river to stem the flow is not going to work. However, if you stand on the bank and simply observe the water (your thoughts), you will soon come to realize that you are safe and the thoughts, like the flow of the river, will soon pass.

It can also be helpful to schedule time during the day to examine your thoughts and worries so they are less likely to interrupt your sleep — more on that in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx9HEn6-LhI

Bear in mind, too, that thoughts are not always accurate! So taking time to evaluate them can be very helpful — more on that in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu_9_1qypY8

Finally, if you want to get really advanced, you can try actively welcoming these thoughts and worries — by doing this, you will remove all of their power.

▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL5LsLUeVA2j_Vsl5625shQ?sub_confirmation=1

My name is Martin Reed and I am the founder of Insomnia Coach®. I offer sleep coaching services that give people with insomnia all the skills and support they need to enjoy better sleep for the rest of their lives. I also offer a free two-week sleep training course for people with insomnia at https://insomniacoach.com/sleep-training/?ref=youtube051619

You can also find me here:

Website: https://insomniacoach.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/insomniacoach
Facebook: https://facebook.com/insomniacoach
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myinsomniacoach/

All content found on the Insomnia Coach YouTube channel is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice or medical treatment and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or other licensed healthcare provider. All content is provided as is, and without warranties.

#insomnia
#sleep
#mindfulness