The old exercise about counting sheep to fall asleep sounds like a joke, especially now that it's been depicted in countless decades-old cartoons. But I'm pretty sure it's for real.
I say "pretty sure" because I've never gotten to sleep by counting sheep exactly. But the principle behind it is something I've found to be helpful. In essence you just mentally take part in something simple and repetitive. Not tedious, but not emotionally charged either. It's a good knockout drop.
2 comments:
I can't say I've ever counted sheep as a way to get to sleep but the premise is true. I have a few personal mantras that usually have the effect of putting me to sleep. Sometimes they don't work so my next solution to the problem of insomnia is to breathe by filling my stomach with air (known as diaphragmatic breathing), hold the breath and let out slowly. It's fairly reliable but not infallible.
When that happens I give up and take a Benedryl tablet. That stuff usually knocks me right out.
Counting sheep as such may be an old practice out in the country, where they actually see sheep on a regular basis. Or it may have always been a jokey metaphor. The other thing that I try to do is keep any movements I might make very slow. The brain tends to slow down to match the body.
Benadryl knocks me out in the daytime, which is why I don't really take it. Now Nyquil is a fast way to get to sleep. But I found years ago that if I keep taking it when I'm not sick I'll have a bad withdrawal.
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