Music suggestions for sleeping

[Craig]

I am an insomniac by nature, I am after suggestions on any music I can play softly in the background whilst I try to sleep. Anything soft soothing etc - anything that could help would be appreciated.

Even meditative reflection like sounds would be great, in the past I have tried wind chimes and such but nothing has struck a chord with me so to speak

Thanks for your help

[gardener2]

Hello Craig if you go into youtube you can find sleep hypnosis personaly I use jody whitley, you will find her there she does several sleep video's some lasting up to 8 hrs. good luck

[markoid]

Tibetan singing bowls maybe. Youtube has quite a lot on offer.

[linksplatinum]

Binaural beats work great for that purpose

[NoNeedForAName]

I have problems to sleep too, Craig. One thing that helps me a lot is to stop "thinking too much" six or more hours before going to bed. So, after 6 p.m. I do my best to forget anything about my work.

I gave classes at night and the energy spent during classes on talking, writing and walking also helped me to sleep. So, you can try do some light exercise for 1 or 2 hours every night and see if it works to you too.

Another thing very important to do is to not use computers, cell phones and tablets at night. These things damage the quality of your sleep. To watch TV is fine. I'm talking this based on a research I heard about once. I personally have difficult following this last step...

[Cara]

Hello Craig,

I go through periods of insomnia every now and then and have done for years. Some things that have helped me:

1. Listening to peaceful music that you know well... I find when I don't know the music I am too interested in hearing what's coming next to actually relax whereas if I know the music already, then I can forget about figuring out what's next and just let it wash over me. So, when you do find something peaceful that you like, listen to it a lot.

2. Doing something boring before bed or if you can't sleep. This advice from my homeopathic doctor who suggested that I do something that is boring to me before bed - ironing, reading a boring textbook, anything really as long as it does not engage you.

3. Free-writing daily. This from a counsellor who suggested "clearing" your mind of things that are spinning around there can help. The technique is simple. Simply sit down and write, by hand on paper, for a solid 20 minutes. Do this everyday at more or less the same time. You can say what you like but don't repeat things you've already said. Over time, it helped me a lot in processing stuff that was an emotional reason for me not getting sleep.

4. I have found doing daily yoga - at least 20 minutes with a really good Savasana at the end - helps me sleep better. I use a DVD from Namaste yoga which means I am not tied to a particular class schedule and can fit it in anywhere in my day.
http://www.namaste.tv/

5. Recently I have been having trouble sleeping because I get the sense that there are beings (not such nice ones) watching me. I had some QHHT (Dolores Cannon method of past lives regression) and the therapist had just been in the UK to do a new level of course and meet Dolores. She had been told by Dolores that in one of the sessions where they'd spoken with higher beings, it was communicated that a pyramid filled with white light is the most powerful protection. So, recently I have been putting up a white light pyramid around myself before I go to sleep. This has also helped and I am no longer feeling watched by those disturbing beings.

6. Making sure you have enough protein in your diet and taking a magnesium (in right proportions to calcium) supplement. Being short of either protein or magnesium can make it difficult to relax and sleep. The one I use is instant Calmag C. You mix it in hot water and the fact that you have a warm drink before bed also helps.
http://calmag-c.com/

7. Finally, the best advice I got was also from my homeopath who simply said, "if you really can't sleep then simply lie quietly and at least let your body rest". This I find is very helpful.

Here are three pieces that I like on YouTube (there are loads more):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lcAoMNEgoI
http://youtu.be/_lcAoMNEgoI


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDir9-UoPjo
http://youtu.be/EDir9-UoPjo


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndL6m5vHVhw
http://youtu.be/ndL6m5vHVhw

Wishing you peaceful sleep.

[Natalia]

A few of my faves to sleep/nap to

(playlist)
53lfXb73z3c

(playlist)
54XztbNJ87g

GfpLea9OurA

FHfIfGlNrx4

[ghostrider]

try just some simple sounds from nature , the sound of the ocean is hard to beat , soothing sounds of water moving ...

[Star Tsar]

Another thing very important to do is to not use computers, cell phones and tablets at night. These things damage the quality of your sleep.

And ensure you unplug/remove batteries where possible around the home.

[Franny]

I'm a lifetime fellow insomniac due to some injuries. It started for me as a pre school child. My problem is thinking way too much. I've tried everything including hypnosis, music, binaural recording, no computer use, NLP, various recordings, ear plugs, dark room etc for decades and nothing has worked except for medication till recently.

I recently read about an area of the Brain that can be physically injured or over worked due to dwelling on problems, stress etc. (Have you ever had head injuries, a concussion or 'whiplash' injury? ) The area of the brain that may be injured is called the Default Mode Network or DMN.

Please research it and get an understanding of how this area works. I'm using an iPad so I won't use any links. it's a fascinating area of brain research.

I've copied a snippet below:

Resting state fMRI - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resting_state_fMRI
The default mode network (DMN) is a network of brain regions that are active when ... precise and detailed look at specific connectivity in brain areas of interest .

This could well be what is referred to in the old texts as the "monkey mind" that won't shut up when you're trying to meditate...or sleep. Following my breath has never worked to shut this chatter off but something just as simple does. it's finally allowing to to sleep without herbs or medication.

it's focusing my mind on something EXTERNAL such as a sound like white noise, rain, an electric fan...or an app I got for free from iTunes that produces these sounds. after about 10 to 15 seconds my brain stops the chatter. I have to continuously refocus, but it's starting to work well enough that I can sleep or meditate with some success. If I wake during the night, it's much easier to get back to sleep. I'm now sleeping at least 6 hours a night...and that's a huge success for me. It's been many years since I've been able to sleep that long.

I use the app with a rain sound or what is called Brown noise -- it's a lower pitch than white noise.

If you have no rain or apps :p change your focus to the texture of the fabric your hand is resting on, or imagine water is flowing over your feet etc

it seems that this works when you keep the focus on something physical and external, not internal like breath. Reading the research on the DMN will explain why this is so.

This method was given to war vets that had PTSD and severe insomnia, and it worked for about 80% of them.

I believe this will work for just about anyone with mild, temporary or more serious forms of insomnia or racing thoughts. it eventually retrains the DMN area of the brain to slow down, sleep, focus, de-stress, shut up or meditate.

It also helps for when you are angry, upset or stressed about a situation. The brain stops the thought loop it's stuck in and helps to relax the mind.

Give it a try, I hope it helps you!

[KaiLee]

When I'm having trouble sleeping I use YouTube. Look up guided relaxation. I too, use Jodie Whitely sometimes.

[Hazel]

Down time in the evenings is helpful... no T.V., internet or reading...
communing with natures lullaby has its benefits in general e.g listening to night birds, insects, wind, rain as you lie in bed.

27169

27170

[Kez]

Sometimes I like to play this magical tune called Deborah's theme to help me get to sleep. acgVUCe1Y0M Its a beautiful song from the classical film 'Once Upon a Time in America' (I love my movies and I watch at least one everynight).

There is also another tune from another movie called Nacho Libre, the song is titled Religious man but this isn't as soothing as the first piece of music. bsH2jOM5Ql4 I hope this helps guys and gals but if it certainly doesn't there is a good film relatable to Insomnia called 'Fight Club' that may tickle your fancy. :-D

[delfine]

The CD "Ballads" by Enrico Pieranunzi works for me.

[aheb]

As ghostrider says the sounds of nature are very good. I used to do a meditation where I would lie on my bed and listen to the music of whales calling to one another and imagine myself on the sea bottom, watching my thoughts float away, after a while I used to go into a very deep sleep

[Craig]

Many, many thanks to all that posted - ill investigate and hopefully get some sleep underway

[betoobig]

I turn off the wifi, and some times the router itself.
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/ciencia/ciencia_consciousuniverse94.htm
This link is for a healing gift for humanity, music. Check it please.
Love

[tcjim1]

Listen to Country Music , that would put anyone to sleep.