De-stressing tips

I have many problems in this area too so feel your pain. Lately I have had a hypnotherapy relaxation thing on my ipod and makes me fall asleep! Not sure that it is supposed too but for the first time ever last week I got back to sleep at 2am courtesy of the ipod!

HTH

I find that listening to a hynpotherapy DVD as I go to sleep allows me to sleep a lot longer... I think it 'clears' your mind a bit so it's not chugging away when you're asleep. H and I listen to it together but I'm also going to start having a little MP3 player with me for if I wake up in the middle of the night (I'm going back to work soon after 6 months of being signed off).

I use Glen Harrold - it doesn't seem that the actual topic makes too much difference but I use this one https://www.hypnosisaudio.com/tape14.htm You can also buy some from audible.co.uk - not sure which is cheaper.

I'm also trying to practice relaxing when I need to - deep breaths, relaxing body, visualising something nice.

I'd agree with the hypnotherapy thing. I had Paul McKenna's I Can Make You Thin. He couldn't, but it did send me to sleep EVERY time. So it goes to show it doesn't matter what the subject is.

Mmmm I have some reiki cd's if get myslef a cd walkman then I could listen to that if I wake up

what about if you are at work ???

I have bought some "Kalms" tablets are they any good??

Acupuncture was absolutly brilliant for me and the effects do last.

I've not tried kalms but rescue remedy seems to work a bit.

One thing I was taught by a hypnotherapist to help me sleep:

Get comfy in bed and close your eyes. Start counting to 30. However, do it very very slowly and talk to yourself in between, slowing your breathing right down and forcing your shoulders, etc, to at least try and relax.

So, "1... Relax, breathe, just relax, slow your breathing, relax, sleep... 2... Relax, breathe, sleep, sleep... 3..." etc, but even slower than you can read it, very languid and relaxed... And I mean actually think the actual words - and try to do them...

I never, ever, get to 30. Even when I think 'there's no way in hell I'm getting to sleep..' on 15-ish, I'm asleep before 30! I think I've only cheated once and gone back to 15-ish from 22-ish - and that was because a loud noise, cramp or something disturbed me... And I was still asleep before 30... Sounds counter-intuitive to tell yourself to sleep, but it works for me...

I tried this last night and it was fantastic! I've been waking up loads in the night recently and stressing about not getting back to sleep. Last night I tried this instead-I never got past 5 AND I felt really relaxed when I woke up ?

Thank you!

I'm so pleased it worked for you and it's not just me that finds it works. I always end up thinking 1 word per breath which drags it out, but whatever works.

I go to yoga once a week which I love. Pure ME time. Would love to go more often.

I find proper breathing helps me relax and sleep. Breathe in slowly and count to 8 and ten breathe out slowly and try to make the breath last to 16 counts.