Recently there was an article published in the Journal of Made Up Statistics that stated that as many as 104% of all people experience sleep issues. When I was experiencing my worst anxiety issues, going to sleep was like my second worst enemy after Carl, my neighbor. Every time I would lay down I would feel arguably more awake than when I was awake, which makes sense if you don't think about it much.
So if you're one of the 104%, here are some tips to help you sleep easier:
• Pay for Sex
Or you could, you know… find a partner. Yeah, do that since it's more legal and less gross. So find a partner and get down and dirty between the bed sheets to the point where you have to Febreeze the room afterwards. For men, sex releases a load of different hormones that induce sleep. For women, sex releases a lot of physical and mental tension that can help make sleep easier. (note: taking matters "into your own hands" has been shown NOT to provide the same hormone release.)
• Write Down Everything
Get yourself a journal and keep it by your bed. Any time you have a thought you can't get rid of, write it down. Why? Because your brain keeps you awake and stressed when it's trying to make sure you remember something. Writing it down tells your brain "hey, don’t worry about it, champ. The journal's got this" and you can relax. Plus someday you can write a book based on those thoughts. I'm currently writing a novel about an albino ferret that saves the world from squirt gun ninjas. It's going to be epic.
• Develop a Really Boring Pre-Sleep Routine
Anxiety is exacerbated by alertness and energy. So your next step is to develop a pathetically boring routine before you go to sleep – one that lasts as long as 30 minutes and contains nothing that can make you alert. So no TV, no adult videos, no roller coaster rides. My first routine was to sit on a couch and tap each of my toes to the tune of "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips, before sipping a cold glass of water in the dark very slowly and heading to sleep. Routines represent comfort, making sleep easier.
• Get Sleep
Of course, any anxiety treatment is also going to be effective, as are general relaxation strategies. And interestingly, sleep itself reduces your anxiety, so if you can get a full night's sleep, you'll be less likely to experience as much anxiety the next time you want to sleep. But do the above techniques, and you'll find that you are able to sleep much easier.
Ryan Rivera is an anxiety disorder survivor. He credits his survival through the use of natural methods and techniques. He shares his story at www.calmclinic.com.