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Elizabeth Scott, M.S.

Good Advice on Stress and Sleep

By , About.com Guide   September 1, 2010

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Have you found that stress affects your sleep? Many people who are under heavy amounts of stress find that they can handle it during the day by keeping busy--too busy to think about the things that cause them anxiety--but once the lights are out and the distractions are gone, everything comes flooding in. Others have noticed this pattern and keep themselves so busy that by the time they get to sleep, they're exhausted and fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow--only to find that they haven't gotten enough sleep the next morning when the alarm starts blaring. What's the best way to get a good night's sleep when the stressors seem to be closing in?

Here are some better sleep ideas from other readers:

My solution is that you read a book, drink some cold milk, or, tense your body up very hard, then, let it go. If none of that works, do this: Start to write a story until your had is very tired and you can't keep your eyes open. Hope this works!!! :)
-Qwerty

Think about what you are going to do tomorrow, and then try making it something happy and turn it in to a dream.
-Bridge

Something that I do is I get up and start exercising if I can't sleep. Because usually, you can't go to sleep if you are too stressed or not all that tired. Another thing you want to do is pray to God or just chant his name over and over again. That works for me.
-Get Tired

Not surprisingly, I have some tips of my own, which can be read in this article on better sleep strategies. What's your best advice for getting to sleep when stressed? Share in the comments section, or in this reader response article on what to do when you can't sleep.

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Comments
September 2, 2010 at 5:10 am
(1) Hirantha :

Start a diary .. reflect everything you have done during the day and of course feeling you had about some issue or about your self .. It really loosen up your mind .. and of course meditation is THE BEST of all . I perform these two ever night before I go to bed .. Ever since I’ve started this, I fall into sleep like a baby.

June 5, 2011 at 6:04 am
(2) Kodi :

What helps me is to pray to God. Thank Him for the good things He’s done in your life. Also, try to take deep breaths, hold them in for 10 seconds, and let them go. Relax your body and mind.

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