Forgetting How To Fall Asleep

Is it medically/mentally possible to forget how to fall asleep.

It’s like I am awake for long periods of time yet can’t fall asleep naturally. But sporadically I get so tired that my body shuts down for brief periods (up to 30 minutes) and it feels like an 8 hour rest.


Admittedly I don’t stick with a regimen of the same thing because - well - I get tired of routine.

I switch between tea, sleep aid, or nighttime snack, so my body doesn’t get programmed to the same thing then it becoming ineffective altogether.

Needless to say it is a difficult task to fall asleep.

Sometimes even if I take sleeping pills, they don’t make me drowsy. 🥱

Other factors that contribute to irregular circadian rhythm is lack of sunlight. I rarely open curtains or go outdoors. I like the darkness.

When I had severe auditory hallucinations, I couldn't sleep because I couldn't stop engaging with them in my thoughts. And what you are describing, the body falling asleep for 30 min because it's exhausted, happened to me also. It took some time but eventually the voices became a lot quieter and I am sleeping now.

Ok now that I have searched auditory hallucinations, I am convinced that I am on the schizophrenia spectrum lol

I’m reading and realizing that this concern may be deeper than I thought. I constantly need a distraction because when my brain is at rest I do hear chatter so I gotta be doing something.

I find myself repetitive counting during activities so that I am focused on counting. Not consecutive numbers (123) but patterned numbers (4, 8, 12).
If I am listening to something I find myself repeating the speaker to focus.

Thank you for your response as it has prompted me to further investigate why I am experiencing this and why it has been increasingly getting harder to deal with.

You might want to take a look at this:
The Sleep Book: How to Sleep Well Every Night
Dr Guy Meadows

It's been recommended on the UK's reading-well book list. I haven't read it, but all the books there have been vetted by at least one health professional.

There's also these links:
https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/sleep_hygiene.html
http://sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/healthy-sleep-habits

Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine have been helpful to me whenever I've had trouble with sleep or dreams:
Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture, World's Second Largest Medical System

I've also found an acupressure self-massage is really helpful at night:
https://www.suicideforum.com/commun...-insomnia-and-anxiety-updated-5-12-17.133822/