Clearing your mind?

**Colapop** · 4th September 2007, 18:58

I'm known round these parts as being pretty flippant and off-hand about most things. A joker if you will. That's great - thanks for the accolade... but in every life a little rain must fall...
I've been stressed (for reasons that I won't go into here) and have had trouble sleeping. I wake up at some ungodly hour (2, 3 in the morning) and can't go back to sleep, or if I do sleep it's just dozing for 20 minutes at a time. I have stuff that seems to go round and round in my head.

My question is this: What do you do to clear your mind? I need to clear my head so I can get some sleep. No, I do not want to take drugs. If I can't clear my mind by myself it's a pointless exercise.

**The Lone Rider** · 4th September 2007, 19:01

Try jogging or push biking for 20 minutes then hard weight lifting for 40 minutes. It works in a psychological and pysiological ways.

**Stickchick** · 4th September 2007, 19:08

Talk to someone you absolutely trust and they may be able to offer some advice of trying to sort things out that you may not have thought of in your stressed state

**terbang** · 4th September 2007, 19:09

Sex, more Sex and lots of it. That'll clear your head...

**canarlee** · 4th September 2007, 19:12

or just pay a shrink and talk to them?

dont laugh, shrinks aint just for nutters........

**Hitcher** · 4th September 2007, 19:13

Read a novel for at least 20 minutes.

Go for a ride on your bike.

Do a Sudoku puzzle.

**Stirts** · 4th September 2007, 19:14

Pen and paper beside the bed....when shit pops in your head, write it down, then it's not just swimming round....works for some

**jrandom** · 4th September 2007, 19:16

I've had the exact same issue recently.

My only way through it was to work out a plan of attack for the situation, figure out the likely outcomes, and think about the good aspects of the big picture. Get everything clear and pinned down in my mind.

I then told myself that I had much to be thankful for, and could and should rest easy. The rest of my life started when the sun rose, and I had what it took to make it kick arse.

Yeah, I know, sounds like a corny self-help tape, but I had to do it, and it worked. Took just under a week, and then I was sleeping just fine.

Usual comments about diet and exercise apply, too.

**janno** · 4th September 2007, 19:23

I found going to a psych really helped. Pass your shit on to someone else!! And the adage of a trouble shared is a trouble halved is true as long as it's someone completely trustworthy.

Plus getting really, really physically tired through exercise, and forcing myself to go to bed an hour later than normal.

It's a real bugger, though, when you've been doing it for a few nights and discover you've got yourself in to the habit of it.

Good luck, I hope it comes right for you soon and you get some lovely

**Winston001** · 4th September 2007, 19:27

Agree with exercise and writing stuff down. It is surprising just how it focuses your mind when you put ideas, thoughts in writing.

Apart from that, there are relaxation and self hypnosis therapies. Here is a link http://www.bcx.net/hypnosis/script.htm You can use this technique for relaxation without doing the positive suggestion part if you don't want to.

Takes 2 or 3 tries but it works.

**Sniper** · 4th September 2007, 19:33

Deep breathe and visualisation of a calm and safe happy place.

Im serious, it works man

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 4th September 2007, 19:35

Originally Posted by Colapop

My question is this: What do you do to clear your mind? I need to clear my head so I can get some sleep. No, I do not want to take drugs. If I can't clear my mind by myself it's a pointless exercise.

Exercise during the day, then at night you need to relax, nothing streinuious or stressful, read a book, blob in from of the box, have soak in a bath, use bath salts...

Then say 1/2 hour to an hour before bed, turn off the box, switch off the puter, make your lunch for work tomorrow, get your work clothes ready make cup of milo with hot milk then trundle off to bed with your book and cuppa and read for a while.

Don't let things stress you out just let them slide, avoid watching the news...

avoid stress threads on Kiwibiker

avoid travelling on clogged motorways...

either that or do the opposite so your brain overloads and implodes....

**tri boy** · 4th September 2007, 19:37

jrandom +1
Think your way out of the situation.

**The Lone Rider** · 4th September 2007, 19:38

Exercise has been proven to increase hormones in the body that deal with feeling well and also is essential to sleep as your mind might be tired but your body needs to be as well.