Comments on: The Night Mind

By: Jill Morrow

Jill Morrow — Tue, 19 May 2026 16:34:57 +0000

Karen, it helps me when I tell myself that I CAN get up and do something else if I want to, but I haven’t done that yet. I’m also noticing that even though Night Mind focuses on very real issues, it can also make a big deal out of something trivial, like the fact that I SHOULD have watered the plants that night or haven’t put a wash in. Silly stuff side-by-side with Very Big Deals.

Deliberately centering myself in the here and now is definitely the goal. Or maybe we should just plan a get-together in the wee hours, since we’re all awake anyway.

By: Karen alvey

Karen alvey — Tue, 19 May 2026 13:23:27 +0000

Strangely I too have been having more and more episodes of Night Mind. I dont seem to feel anxious about anything consciously when going to bed, but wow, sometimes it all comes roaring to the surface before I can fall asleep. I pray, “casting all my cares on Him who cares for me” but when my dratted Night Mind INSISTS on playing God with my thoughts, I have to just get up go to the couch and turn on the lights, seeing my surroundings as Sherry mentioned, deliberately centering myself in the here and now. Sometimes light reading helps as well. Ill be thinking of you all the next time it happens!

By: Jill Morrow

Jill Morrow — Sun, 17 May 2026 17:12:58 +0000

In reply to Elizabeth Graham. I like that idea, Elizabeth. The trend I'm seeing is to somehow compartmentalize the worries with the promise of dealing with them at a later time. Corralling them may be a problem, but having a place for them to go is a good start!

By: Elizabeth Graham

Elizabeth Graham — Sat, 16 May 2026 14:21:18 +0000

I used to put a little black box beside my bed and imagine putting my worries into it for the night. They wouldn’t be forgotten but they didn’t need to be in my head.

By: Robert DiNapoli

Robert DiNapoli — Fri, 15 May 2026 00:27:18 +0000

🙂 I’m not saying the nightmares were any fun. More like ripping a bandage off quickly to get it over with.

By: Jill Morrow

Jill Morrow — Thu, 14 May 2026 00:54:02 +0000

In reply to Robert DiNapoli. Robert, I think the key word here is "tomorrow." Knowing that nothing can be done NOW helps. But ... nightmares as a relief-valve? Wow. For me, that would probably be throwing gasoline on a fire!

By: Jill Morrow

Jill Morrow — Thu, 14 May 2026 00:52:16 +0000

In reply to Sherry. Sherry, that's a helpful technique. It's also a very grounding one. Remembering to stay in a particular moment at the very least corrals the rampant fears. Thanks for sharing!

By: Robert DiNapoli

Robert DiNapoli — Wed, 13 May 2026 22:34:57 +0000

I imagine everybody’s different with this one, Jill. In my years of maximum stress, literal nightmares were a recurring relief-valve. Awkward (!) to experience, but ultimately lowering the psychic temperature. Usually. Latterly I find I just have to stare the little buggers down. Not manically, just taking as calm an inventory as I can of why this or that sucks and what (if anything) I can do about it. Tomorrow. I think my Taurean inertia/phlegmatism helps a little there.

By: Sherry

Sherry — Wed, 13 May 2026 21:56:24 +0000

I recently read an article about sleep issues, including the racing mind that is your night mind. It talked about how this is a symptom of the body needing to feel safe but not finding or recognizing that it is in a place of safety.
From a friend who writes about issues of anxiety, I learned a technique for calming oneself by slow breathing, consciously looking around yourself, and specifically reassuring yourself that you are safe in the moment. This has helped me quiet that ever-present night mind.
~Sherry