I've had insomnia for years on and off. My insomnia comes in the form of self abasement, I beat myself up at night, as soon as I put the light out and I'm alone in the darkness, I remember every bad decision I've ever made, every bad financial move, any arguments I've had my failed relationships, and I turn them over and over in my mind, this can go on for weeks, I've spent so many nights sitting up in my armchair watch the TV in wee small hours. I have noticed that some people worry in the day time and look forward to sleeping to forget their worries, I'm the opposite, I don't worry when I'm awake, but when I go to sleep the anxiety wakes me up!

In my opinion, depression is a very natural response to the societal insanity most people are experiencing in the modern world. If you had no genuine human feelings, then you wouldn't care about anything. Depression means you care about yourself in the context of existence. Managing depression is the issue.

I clicked on your video at 3.50am 😆😂 I just stay awake until the next sleep time.

i recite " Hail Mary's" as many as i can until i fall to sleep

Doug Bloch is the real deal. He is very intelligent and compassionate and he speaks from experience.

Your videos got me through a nasty depression recently Douglas and I would like to thank you. I sat beside the computer playing them over and over. They gave me great comfort until I came through the other end. Many thank`s

I actually fell asleep while listening to this video. Your voice is quite comforting. Thanks.

You get up and get on with your life. Since 2020 when I lost my wife (aspirated pneumonia) I've been getting 3-4hrs sleep a night. Didn't sleep at all for over three weeks, just stared at the ceiling or walls. My Doctor didn't know about this until 3months later when I talked to him about a Covid jab that I'd refused, my OT made the telephone appointment as she was worried about my health and wellbeing. I have tried the methods you describe but they didn't work for me. I no longer avoid sleeping as I have found that Dreaming is the only way I get see or talk to my wife. Well at least while I'm alive that is. It doesn't matter what time I go to bed I'm awake 3-4hrs later, but I found it best for me to go to bed at around 2am so that when I do wake up it is between 5-6am so it's not too bad getting up then. If I try staying in bed I end up with a headache and feeling sick.

I hope all shall be well. I have so many troubles. I’m a Christian and I keep reading Philippians Chapter 4 verse 6. It helps with the anxiety but I still can’t sleep.

"All you seniors; they can relate to that." No, I've had that happening since my early 20s. Except I didn't always usually _have_ to go. It was usually just an annoying urge that awakened me, but I could go right back to sleep seconds later. And wake up dry. But it would _keep_ waking me up, so it was best to just go the first time and sleep through the rest of the night.

I listened to you for less than five minutes and subscribed to your channel.

I live in the UK and the BBC radio app has the recordings of Hancocks Half Hour from the 1950s. Almost without fail these will send me to sleep.

Very nice video, I enjoyed it and will try some of your ideas. Thanks

Thank you, Douglas. You are a mensch.

Thank you, Douglas! 😄

very interesting I will try some of these suggestions . thank you for posting this

Very informative and thanks ..it helps a lot.

Such a nice explanation thanks

I meditate and it helps also……Deep breathing helps a lot and relaxes you. Breathe in through your nose to a count of 7, hold for a count of 4 and exhale through the mouth, not the nose!

Thank you much appreciated ❤

The information continues to be great and my anxiety is more easily understood through this video. Helps take away the complexity of anxiety and more notably. Thanks Douglas Bloch

Thank you for this

Awesome tips to overcome insomnia. Thanks Douglas

Thank you for sharing

Thank you for sharing. Will try some of the techniques

Thank you. I will try your techniques. I really appreciate the help.

lots of good ideas here, some of which I already utilize successfully thanks Mr Bloch

Good video- thank you.

Thank you. I found you just when I needed your instructional video. I will certainly try your suggestions.

Terrific advice.

Wonderful! I came across your video in middle of the night & as I listened to your suggested list of affirmations I thought of the mystic Julian of Norwich’s “All Shall Be Well…” & you quoted it right then😀. I visited my brother in London Christmas (1998) before he died & he lent me his car(!) to drive to Norwich to visit the Cathedral. I also saw Mother Julian’s cell attached to a nearby little parish church where she spent her hermit years. It was unusual (in the middle ages) for ladies to write mystical literature. I also say the Lord’s Prayer in my mind -it is quite difficult to think it inwardly word for word & I’m usually asleep before I can to finish it… & Yes, a lot of laughter in life is a boon! Thank you for your video. We are well blessed. Greetings from Australia 00:49 a.m.(!) Julia🕊️

Yes, helpful!!! Thank you!

Great video thanks for helping me sleep 💤

Thankyou, for all the options, of getting back to sleep! 😊

Douglas, thank you so much for your practical down to earth advice on techniques to get back to sleep. Very, very helpful.

This just popped up today, I have done all but counting backwards. Will try, thank you

Square breathing always works, for those of you who try this you can amplify the effect by placing your hand on your stomach. Put your hand on your stomach and feel yourself breathing in and out. Concentrate on how your hand feels and your counting and breathing, you will fall a sleep because this will quite your mind. I am a vet with PTSD, it does work so I suggest you give it a try

Great to see you again Douglas.Thanks for the video and info.May you continue to help and give great advice and peace,to so many people for a long time to come.👌💚

Thank you Youngman your timing is great! I can't SLEEP. I am so distracted, but I will try your Techniques and Prayerfully get the rest I need so desperately.

Thank you Doug! These suggestions are helpful❣️💜😍🌎🙏

Thank you for your concern and heartfelt advice

Thank you. Great video

Very helpful info thank you

Meditation is what a lot of this sounds like. Good tips to try.

Thanks Douglas

Excellent!

Thank you Mr Bloch. The methods you teach are good and true - I’ve just forgotten them . Compliments on your pleasant voice - very easy to hear - you could read books for the blind . Forgive disjointed non sequiturs - I am a lot older than you. Goodnight. 9/23

Love your humour interlaced throughout the good advice.feels like a natural conversation. Thanks for the advice 👍

Thank you!

Thx for the ideas, most I’ve never heard of before, Hod bless you for sharing

Listening to your video helped me relax too. Thanks a bunch. Your friend is right. That afternoon senio or insomnia slump is almost overwhelming.

Good morning, Douglas. You have clearly described my frequent experience of waking at 4 a.m. and finding difficulty falling back asleep. One of my coping techniques involves planning tasty meals for the next day. Thanks for your practical suggestions which I will start to implement!

Gracias por su ayuda. Este es el mejor canal sobre depresión y ansiedad.

I've been a terrible sleeper since childhood, and advice like this may help with transient or new onset insomnia, but it's not generally helpful to those with long term chronic sleep issues. We've tried it all, and still can't sleep. I'm putting this out there for those who do try these techniques, then wonder why they aren't working.

Focus the mind, with my cell phone and listen to interviews. Works for me. Thank you for your video's.. ❤

Great help , just had a bad night and poor sleep. John in Wales UK

Douglas your very good

All excellent techniques! I have tried them in the past AND they work! Keep it up Douglas, great video.

Thanks Dr❤

I've memorised the periodic table and I bring each symbol to mind in sequence - usually this works for me. I vary the starting point in the table. I often can remember the point I got to when I wakeup.

I have tried most of these, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I have never tried all shall be well. I will try, especially that in the morning the problem is not as important as I imagined at night. Thank you for the video.

God bless you

I’ve just discovered your videos and it brings tears to my eyes that you are so kind and helpful to so many people. I am currently going through a depressive episode and I really needed something to connect with. Your videos are really amazing

Thank you.

Been awake since 3:00,up since 4:00. Hoping to solve this recurrent problem. Thanks.

I am so glad I found you Douglas !!! These videos help me so much and help me cope with anxiety and panic attacks. Keeping them at bay . How can I gain more energy thru the day ? I feel so lethargic during the day like everything in my body is out of balance .

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE VIDEO ON SLEEPY. NOW WE CAN WEAKUP .WITH A. FRESH DAY.

so timely, I woke in despair and it's 4 am..ruminating about all the tragedies of last few years...despair....ty so much for these videos and lifeline, Douglas, all my best, you are an inspiration for many of us bc you truly understand this hell and have overcome it

Thank You❤

i‘m very glad you were in my timeline :)

Thanks for this video. I use many of these. Except the walk around the block. Not really safe to walk around my block at 3 in the morning :) but this is very helpful

Your right about listen to audiobooks, and all shall be well, I like that. Thanks a million.

Another great video Doug, I recently find that temperature in the room really affects me, and I move to a cooler room which doesn’t always work but helps a lot of the time.

Thank you for the tip it really helps

Thank you so much for these recommendations. ❤️ I've tried these and they do work most of the time. Thank God. I was really stressing out about it.

Asmr works really well for Me!😊👍

Get a grounding mat. Put it on your bottom sheet where you can rest your bare feet on it. More info on the YT docs Grounding and Earthing. Helped my insomnia quite quickly.

Occasionally I take 5 mg of zolpedim, works like a charm. Hot bedtime tea helps too. Good advice on a typical OLD people situation, pray and thank God we are here!

Thanks for the tips. I am a constant poor sleeper in the early mornings. I think the counting backwards might help since it is would be so boring Cheers.

Yes I use UKposts hypnosis or audio plays its the best 👌 I get up have tea then back to bed works !!! 😊 excellent Douglas I'm subscribing

Thanks so much for this, I had a 4am night just last night! I finally got up, made a cup of decaf., washed the dishes, and finally got back to sleep for a couple more hours...time for bed now.....I really like your tips and the way you do this video...my 70's are proving to be sleeping challenged in cycles....must be normal eh.

I started listening to audiobooks . I started out with boring books. And set a timer for 20 min. It puts me right out. Every time I wake up. I just go back to the audiobook.

As a kid I was diagnosed with ADD as they used to call it and medicated with Ritalin (my son had similar issues but we fixed it 100% with love, care, and a change of environment and educational approach - but that’s another story). As adulthood has progressed (I’m now middle aged) I have suffered from bad depression (sort of bipolar 2). I did a sleep study the other day, and the results said I am only getting 1% REM sleep when a person is supposed to get 20 to 25%. It is profound how these pathological/neurological issues affect you. It really is. I don’t often have trouble falling asleep but I always wake up at 3am and that’s it for me usually. But I’m very grateful for you Douglas.

Very helpful- thank you.

I wake up in the middle of the night and cant sleep. It has been like this for over 20 years, now THIS is a living nightmare. Not depressed

Good and easy methods

It used to be a common practice to have a “second sleep” - breaking your sleep into two sessions. Benjamin Franklin used the time between sleeps very productively. Thank you Wikipedia.

I have found that thinking positive thoughts and doing something worthwhile before bed works for me, for example doing some kind of workout or exercise, painting ( a room or on a canvas). I also use an eye massager before sleep which helps me relax. If I wake during the night I change my negative thoughts to positive ones and go a do a small task like putting the washing machine on or washing dishes as this is a good distraction then I go back to bed. I unfortunately only sleep for around three to four hours a night but it’s enough for me to function the rest of the day.

Thanks a lot - It's great to have all your tips in the one place. Not sure if you have tried the 'worry notebook' idea, before you get to the point of getting out of the bed. Sometimes it works to list both things you have no control over, and also things you want to remind yourself about for tomorrow, then end with three things you are thankful for in your life. - as I said, thanks a lot. Elizabeth from Ireland

I have this every night due to anxiety, usually I put on a podcast or audiobook and I'll be able to fall asleep eventually

Thank u sir

Thanks...

Someone told me this simple trick and it worked for me. Count seconds in your head. One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand.......I am usually asleep by 100 one thousand which is just over three minutes. One time I made it to 300 but that was still only 5 minutes.

5.42am. I’ll have a look at UKposts and there you are!!! How did my iPad know? Creepy

Square breathing was a major turning point for me. So simple but incredibly effective. I bring the amount of seconds up to 10 or 20 sometimes.

Thank you very much, very helpfull

I find reading a paper book useful. Also no caffeine from lunch time onwards. Thank you.

Thanks

Thank you for helping. :>

My most effective technique seems to be deep breathing (breathe in over a few seconds, hold for a few, let it out slowly, and repeat when ready). There's something about the vagus nerve, relaxation, and heart rate reduction going on. Maybe this was the evolutionary purpose of the yawn? - to relax and move closer to sleep? My next most important thing is emptying my mind. Normally I just try to go blank, but sometimes I'll focus on a mantra. Some Buddhists combine a mantra with deep breathing (something like "breathe in the Universe" and "breathe out the toxins of the body" or whatever you want to get rid of).