Insomnia: Will counting sheep help you to fall asleep?
updated the 14 July 2015 à 18:31Who hasn’t tried counting sheep to help us fall asleep? Is it a phony solution or a real aid? Here are some possible answers.
When we toss and turn in bed at night, unable to fall asleep, we are more than ready to try anything. According to a very widespread belief, counting sheep could facilitate sleep. True or false?
COUNT SHEEP, YES; BUT NOT MINUTES
Counting (sheep back from 1000) moves our fixation away from the desire to sleep, making it counterproductive. To place the odds in your favour, avoid focusing your attention on something too complex that requests intellectual effort (prime numbers, for example), or anything dealing with time. Do not hesitate to visualise the scene in great detail – the meadow, the apple tree on the right, the veiled sun, etc. You can also project yourself into a peaceful and pleasant situation – sitting on a beach or contemplating while looking out at the sea. All of this contributes to preventing your brain from ruminating unnecessarily. Breathe deeply by becoming aware of the weight of your body on the mattress, but don’t try too hard if it is difficult to achieve because it will not work.
Information courtesy of Dr François Thioly, psychiatrist and hypnotherapist.
Maureen Diament
