Racing thoughts at night

I can't fall asleep because of thoughts. I just cannot stop thinking. My brain is too active. Besides medication, do you have any strategies?

When i have racing thoughts and can't sleep, i have to make myself calm down and relax. Most of the time i grab my headphones and go on youtube from my cell phone and find songs that are pleasing to me. It usually helps calm down my mind enough to let me relax. Although this method takes about a hour or two, but i eventually fall asleep. I hope this helps you!

Thanks. Do you fall asleep while listening to the music? Or do you go to sleep after you turn the music off?

I usually fall asleep a few minutes after i turn the music off. I've never fallen asleep with it on.

Fairytale wrote:I can't fall asleep because of thoughts. I just cannot stop thinking. My brain is too active. Besides medication, do you have any strategies?

That sounds like anxiety, which can respond to anxiety medications or any type of anxiety management techniques you can learn from counselors. If it is actually "racing thoughts" as the next post called it, that might be a sign of a biploar disorder.

I had the same problem and found several effective counter measures.
1. I played a bit of guitar. It requires concentration and focus to do it well -better than I did the previous week. It takes the extraneous thoughts out of my mind.
2. Exercise in the early evening, but not right before bed. There is a special technique to this. As you exercise, listen to your body carefully. What is aching because it is weak? What muscles are strong? Is the left and right side balanced? What is improving and what needs to be addressed? Would stretching before exercise help? I used to lift weights. Here is a thought experiment: lay down on a bench and put 150 kilos over your nose and tell me what is on your mind. I'll wager it is nothing except the barbell.
3. Learn something. Get something challenging and interesting, but not impossible. You might learn French, piano, or quantum physics. Pick your level, and match your interest. Get focused on it to chase away the unwanted thoughts that are racing through.

See the pattern? Pick something and focus on it. Take your mental energy and harness it. It is not a matter of mental capacity, it is the ability to organize it and master that power. Once you can focus well on one thing, it is a small step to get the last thing out of your mind and drift off to sleep. It takes time. It is like exercise, it takes a while to be effective and to see improvement.

good luck to you
GaryM