“I have suffered from chronic and generalised anxiety for years. I have done medical treatment and therapy. Although I have not managed to improve as I would like, I can see some changes. I still take medication at night to sleep.
I find it very difficult to be able to disconnect my mind and try to sleep because during the night is when my mind is most active.
I have tried lots of guided meditation and mindfulness but the fact of having to count seconds when breathing or trying to be conscious in the present generates even more anxiety because I don’t want to make mistakes and I find myself trying to force myself to enjoy the moment.
Is there really any meditation technique to help me fall asleep?
What kind of breathing is best to try to calm my mind?
Inhale and try to hold the breath as long as I can or should I just exhale for a long time and slowly, trying not to breathe as much as possible?
Thank you very much in advance.”
Meditation can help your sleep.
Understanding why your mind is active at night is important for falling asleep.
During the day our minds take in huge amounts of information.
Do you ever allow time for your mind to process this information and make sense of it?
If you don’t, the only time that your mind has to try and do this is when you lie down in bed and try to sleep.
Meditation gives your mind the time and space to process your thoughts.
If your mind has processed all your thoughts and is calm you fall asleep quickly and get better quality sleep.
Breathe slowly to calm your mind, breathing should be effortless and feel natural.
Meditate daily on a morning after waking up and on an evening before sleeping.
Edwin Leo 