Usually I don't fall asleep until I can get my brain to stop thinking. If I start thinking about something, then I can't get myself to relax enough to pass out.
Last Thing You Think Of Before You Fall Asleep??
- Thread starter VidiianSkinRash
- Start date
Oh my god! I thought I was the only person on earth to do this.
I hesitate to call them 'fantasies' since they are not (necessarily) at all sexual in nature. Often they are just nice stories I make up and tell to myself.
I have been doing this since I was a small child, because like you, it has always taken me a really long time to go to sleep. And if I don't focus my mind on a nice story, I'll end up being up all night thinking about bullshit office politics, how much work I have to do, or something that is not at all sleep-inducing.
Glad someone else does this, because I've always felt like a freak, and kept this behavior a deep dark secret. This is the first time I've ever said I did this, in fact.
A
Amaris
Guest
Nothing. I dissolve my problems into a misty fog and drift away. Usually because I'm too exhausted to actually think about anything anyway. 
Hmm, usually think about how I wish I could find a job.
Linkin Park or the TRON: Legacy soundtrack is usually playing so the dreams are good.
Linkin Park or the TRON: Legacy soundtrack is usually playing so the dreams are good.
J
Jetfire
Guest
I wonder if there are aliens, ghosts or demons in my room before I fall asleep. 
I wonder if there are aliens, ghosts or demons in my room before I fall asleep.
Yes. We... they're everywhere.
Oh my god! I thought I was the only person on earth to do this.
I hesitate to call them 'fantasies' since they are not (necessarily) at all sexual in nature. Often they are just nice stories I make up and tell to myself.
I have been doing this since I was a small child, because like you, it has always taken me a really long time to go to sleep. And if I don't focus my mind on a nice story, I'll end up being up all night thinking about bullshit office politics, how much work I have to do, or something that is not at all sleep-inducing.
Glad someone else does this, because I've always felt like a freak, and kept this behavior a deep dark secret. This is the first time I've ever said I did this, in fact.
Oh hon, we are not alone! Like you, I've been doing it since I can remember, and like you, it helps me to keep from obsessing and worrying over things that would keep me awake. The stories vary greatly. Sometimes they are unique vignettes, others have been going on for years, with me adding or changing details. Sometimes I am in them, sometimes other real people or characters from books/movies/TV (a la fanfiction, but I've been doing it since before I knew what fanfiction was) -- sometimes the characters, settings, and plots are entirely mine. They are only rarely sexual in nature. But I digress -- we are not alone: I had a lovely exchange with my sister last Christmas when we were sharing the bed in the guest room. I asked her, "Do you make up stories to entertain yourself while you're waiting to fall asleep?" she replied, "Yes." I asked, "Do they ever involve the Doctor?" She replied, "Yes." I giggled. My sister and I are two nerdy peas in a pod. And I think there are many other peas out there besides you, she, and I.
To continue the line of thought regarding making up stories to get to sleep, I also have a tendency to do this, admittedly. However, rather than several stories, it's actually different parts of the one gigantic story I have in my head when my mind is off-duty, and depending on my mood I'll focus on a different part of the story, refining it as I go along and throwing in new ideas as they come by.
The best part, though, is this: I act it out. The active physical and mental aspects of this ultimately help me get to sleep before I know it.
The best part, though, is this: I act it out. The active physical and mental aspects of this ultimately help me get to sleep before I know it.
Either a particular lady, or else I am doing the story thing as well.
Oh my god! I thought I was the only person on earth to do this.
I hesitate to call them 'fantasies' since they are not (necessarily) at all sexual in nature. Often they are just nice stories I make up and tell to myself.
I have been doing this since I was a small child, because like you, it has always taken me a really long time to go to sleep. And if I don't focus my mind on a nice story, I'll end up being up all night thinking about bullshit office politics, how much work I have to do, or something that is not at all sleep-inducing.
Glad someone else does this, because I've always felt like a freak, and kept this behavior a deep dark secret. This is the first time I've ever said I did this, in fact.
Oh hon, we are not alone! Like you, I've been doing it since I can remember, and like you, it helps me to keep from obsessing and worrying over things that would keep me awake. The stories vary greatly. Sometimes they are unique vignettes, others have been going on for years, with me adding or changing details. Sometimes I am in them, sometimes other real people or characters from books/movies/TV (a la fanfiction, but I've been doing it since before I knew what fanfiction was) -- sometimes the characters, settings, and plots are entirely mine. They are only rarely sexual in nature. But I digress -- we are not alone: I had a lovely exchange with my sister last Christmas when we were sharing the bed in the guest room. I asked her, "Do you make up stories to entertain yourself while you're waiting to fall asleep?" she replied, "Yes." I asked, "Do they ever involve the Doctor?" She replied, "Yes." I giggled. My sister and I are two nerdy peas in a pod. And I think there are many other peas out there besides you, she, and I.
I've never had anyone confess to me that they did this, like you have - I really did think I was all alone, and that other people fell asleep thinking about 'nothing' (I don't think I've ever in my life, for one nanosecond, thought about 'nothing' - I don't know how to do that).
What you describe is very similar to what I do - sometimes I'm in the stories, sometimes not. Sometimes other real life people are in the stories, sometimes characters in TV shows or movies or books. Sometimes, I even make myself that character in that book or movie! And I have certain stories that I've had for years - I have sort of a set of 'base' stories that I select from and add to or take in different directions - I've probably done a million different versions of them! These stories, to me, are like 'comfort food'. They allow me to put all my troubles aside and focus on something comforting and in a way, familiar.
Can't say as I've ever used Doctor Who as the basis of any of my stories. But I have used Babylon 5 and Farscape. And I have TONS of stories based on LOST (all of them ending alot better than the actual show did, I might add
). But the stories are not necessarily based in Scifi. I have one story that I was working on for a while based on Lillian Rush, the main character in Cold Case. Haven't played around with that one lately - I should pull that one out. In one version of that story, I even managed to get her into LOST.
Jeez...I can't believe I am actually talking about this.
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I'm usually thinking about something I want to fathom or create, and I'll be thinking through it.
As I fall into light sleep, my ability to visualise complex objects, visualise/rearrange equations, and similar mental manipulation, becomes better than what I can do while I'm awake.
But as I fall into a deeper sleep, those thoughts start to become mixed up as I make all sorts of funny associations between things.
So I might be imagining a cube... and then what if the cube is made of cake? And rather than having two terms in an equation, what if it were two dogs, and what if they start eating the cake?
It's pleasant silliness, that both relaxes me and humours me, and I'll usually fall asleep smiling.
As I fall into light sleep, my ability to visualise complex objects, visualise/rearrange equations, and similar mental manipulation, becomes better than what I can do while I'm awake.
But as I fall into a deeper sleep, those thoughts start to become mixed up as I make all sorts of funny associations between things.
So I might be imagining a cube... and then what if the cube is made of cake? And rather than having two terms in an equation, what if it were two dogs, and what if they start eating the cake?
It's pleasant silliness, that both relaxes me and humours me, and I'll usually fall asleep smiling.
I think:
"It was... fun. Oh, my..."
"It was... fun. Oh, my..."
I think:
"It was... fun. Oh, my..."
I've been thinking that every time I saw this thread!
I think:
"It was... fun. Oh, my..."
Ah! Guys! And they usually think it within about 15 seconds of said 'fun' ending.
Yeah, I think of stories too. Only, I enjoy doing it so much, it's actually at the expense of my sleep. I'm always telling myself to stop thinking or I'll regret it in the morning. I also tend to think of very heavy stuff at night. My past, my present, my future and the day's events. So it takes me more than an hour every night at least to fall asleep.
Who actually remembers when they fall asleep? Think about it. 
Four score and seven years ago...
Joking.
I usually think up little scenarios. Not really stories, just isolated events. Usually they involve me and one or more of my friends getting into a fight, having some sort of adventure, doing something badass, etc. Sometimes I try to think of stories based on whatever song I'm listening to. I once had a really trippy one where I was walking on clouds, trying to open a locked door that didn't lead to anywhere.
Joking.I usually think up little scenarios. Not really stories, just isolated events. Usually they involve me and one or more of my friends getting into a fight, having some sort of adventure, doing something badass, etc. Sometimes I try to think of stories based on whatever song I'm listening to. I once had a really trippy one where I was walking on clouds, trying to open a locked door that didn't lead to anywhere.
For the last week it's been how much I miss my wife. She is in South Texas visiting her family and I miss her kisses and hugs before bed. I hope she returns home soon! I and the cats miss her much.
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