Insomnia

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Letum

It's not the sort of insomnia produced by stress, gloom or anxiety either.
---->
I just cant turn off my mind.
---->
It's not that I'm not relaxed, it's just that when I am relaxed, I think.

That's almost classic!

Maybe your ordinary life is such that it does not leave you too much room for yourself, your thoughts, wishes, etc. Work keeps you running, family keeps you busy, you rotate from 8 am to 10 pm. Something like that. It could become an exhausting nevertheless adapted routine. And then the worst case happens: holidays! no more work, nothingthat leeps you spinning! the engine stutters, slowly comes to standstill. Horror! for the firts time since weeks and months you become aware again of yourself, not just beeing aware of your functioning in the job's context. what to do now, all these thoughts! Maybe you know this püerception phenomenon: you are rding by train, and the train enters a staion and comes to a standstill - for some seconds you nevertheless may have the feeling that it is still moving on.

You see where I am pointing. the state or relaxation is what allows you to become aware of your thoughs and wishes, maybe for a first time after a linger period. The unusual sensation of this is what keeps your mind spinning, then. This ohenomenon also is known with older people who leave job activity due to their age. Sometimes they can even become depressive.

I would not recommend to use drugs of any kind as long as your daily routines and actions do not suffer from your "insomnia". You sound as what you experience is pretty much a natural thing. If you do not need sleep, well, then don't try to sleep with determination. that simple!

but if you are tired but still cannot sleep, try paradox internvention: don't try to sleep, but TRY TO STAY AWAKE. One cannot try to sleep, it's almost a guarantee that you will not sleep.

Occasionally I meditate (not half as often as I would like, must make more time for it). And I can empty my thoughts then, but it requires concentration that prohibits sleep.

first: regularity is what counts, choose a timeframe and length wehre you have no exycuse anymore not do practce meditation.
second: talking by own experience, I would say your decreased need for sleep is pretty much normal if you meditate regularly. It is not different for me. Remember, physically, your body does in no way need the mind'S state of being asleep to regenerate: physical rest, not using your muscles, is absolutely enough. It is your brain and mind that depends on sleep to regenerate. But when meditating, your mind also regenerates, just in a different manner than when sleeping (if you find yourself falling off your seat cushion then that difference is no more ), and some would even say in a more efficient manner. we know of Yogis who haven't slept for years.

If your brain is running lull, it is less stressed, and if being offered the state of meditating, it needs less regeneration by sleeping and dreaming. It starts pushing the gas pedal with your gears not switched away from neutral. That way you have lots of noise, without going anywhere. The implication is that the way you meditate makes it a meditation that does not carry over in effect to your regular life, but is limited to the timeframe when your meditation is practiced. That is not what it is about...! You mentioned concentration, without going into detail. that sounds like object-related meditation. That is okay, but it needs supplementation by what is called attentive meditation (Achtsamkeits-Meditation, Einsichts-Meditation). You need both. Do you know the theoretical difference between Shamata and Vipassana?

Rethink the drugs. As you describe it, I can't see a need for them.