does anyone have trouble falling asleep due to thinking about how life was prior to getting injured? i don't generally think about this during the day because i'm occupied by PT or television but when i'm going to sleep and there is no sensory stimulation my mind drifts to thinking about how things were prior to becoming injured and this keeps me up at night. does anyone else have this issue and if so, how did you overcome it?

Ibc,

Sounds like good for ole anxiety and yes I deal with it. I work at not allowing tomorrow or yesterday to ruin right now.

I have found anxietycentre.com to be helpful.

The brain can certainly operate differently after being whacked.

Bud

injuredbutrecoverin,
have you tried relaxation exercizes and things like that - a wind down period of time before actually going to bed.
I used to use it for my children when they were little and it was just for an hour before bed and became a routine of turning down lighting and sounds and all external stimuli. Not all at once, but slowly.

The minute my head hits the pillow I start to think. I think everyone is like that at some time in their lives. If you're doing it all the time and it's a problem then try some downtime before sleep and make your bedroom only for sleeping if that's possible. I mean, don't turn the tv on there or the computer. Learn some breathing / relaxation techniques.

Lie down in a peaceful place and start with the toes and clench the muscles and then hold for a short time and then release. Do that all the way up to the top of your head. Arms too. Remember to breathe.

If you find that the quietness is disturbing and I know that sounds weird but sometimes quietness is so alien to us, it can be strange to begin with, then listen to some type of sounds that you find calming. Everyone is different with sounds and music so what makes me relax might not make you relax.

I used to have a lot of trouble with meditating and relaxing properly. The moment I closed my eyes, I started to think. If you can find something to focus on in your mind... a scene or setting, then that can help.

... don't forget to breathe.

Oh and I forgot to mention that if I'm physically tired (I'm always tired mentally) then that helps me go straight to sleep. BUT, if I've over done it physically in the day, then it is worse not better.

Maybe cut caffeine out in the day if you haven't already. I find reading in bed takes my mind off negative thoughts, I try to think about good memories or something boring like repairing my old car! I go through the procedure in my mind. The best sleep I get is when I go to bed in a happy relaxed frame of mind. But there are still some nights I can't switch my brain off despite being tired.