Weird Feeling When Trying To Fall Asleep: What Is Causing It?

Introduction

There is nothing worse than not being able to peacefully drift off to sleep. Perhaps you feel a little bit uneasy, perhaps you are tossing and turning, and perhaps you just have a weird feeling when trying to fall asleep.

Fortunately, we have done the research and discovered what could be causing these weird feelings and what you can do about it today to help future you get a better nights sleep.

Let’s take a look at what could be causing your weird feelings when trying to fall asleep.

It Could Be Anxiety

One of the most likely reasons for experiencing weird feelings when trying to fall asleep is anxiety. Anxiety can be caused by a variety of reasons, both physiological and environmental.

We recommend consulting a licensed psychiatrist or counselor as soon as possible to try simple talk therapy to work through whatever is bothering you, whether it is work, school, relationships, etc.

For now, one simple thing you can do to help combat anxiety is to meditate. Get out of bed and sit in a comfortable position, and simply focus on your breath coming in and out. Whenever you feel your mind is wandering, simply refocus on your breathing.

Try and do this for as long as you can stand – whether it is a minute, five, ten, or longer. Chances are if you are new to meditating, it will be closer to five. Just do what you can.

Although it may just sound like you are breathing, meditating can have tremendous benefits to your mental health and thus your overall life. Talk to your doctor or counselor for more information, but in the interim, meditating may be able to help quell the weird feelings are you experiencing while trying to fall asleep.

Panic Attacks

If you are experiencing any of these systems while trying to fall asleep, there is a good chance you are experiencing a panic attack.

• Breathing difficulties such as shortness of breath
• Racing, repeating thoughts
• A quickened heartbeat
• Loss of order or control

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is likely you are experiencing a panic attack. We recommend, as soon as possible, consulting a medical professional.

It may not seem like it at the moment, but panic disorders can be treated with therapy and in certain cases medication. This information does not constitute medical advice. In the interim, meditating (as described above) may be helpful in allowing you to fall asleep.

It Could Be Due To Your Diet

What did you have for dinner tonight? If the weird feeling seems is new and just started occurring, it may be from the food you have eaten today. That is right, believe it or not, the food you eat can have an effect on your mental state!

This is because gut bacteria play a vital role in contributing to your moods and mental health.

In this case, it may be that you simply had something slightly funky for dinner that is not quite sitting right with your body. In this case, just drink a good amount of water and wait for it to pass. However, if this is occurring nightly, a lifestyle change may be needed.

Are you binging on late night snacks before you go to bed? Are you always having a bowl of ice cream for dessert? Try and make healthy choices and see if the weird feelings go away.

What You Can Do To Help Stop The Weird Feeling When Falling Asleep

There are a number of things you can try to do to stop the weird feelings you are having when falling asleep. Below, we have outlined a few of our favorite things you can do to stop the feelings from occurring now and prevent them from happening in the future.

Identify Your Problems

We all have problems, worries, and anxieties. Oftentimes by simply acknowledging them, we can free ourselves from their grip and the burdens they place on our minds.

In many instances, this may be one of the main reasons you are having trouble falling asleep – because when we do not acknowledge our problems, they do not simply disappear – instead, they fester and continue to cause us pain and anxieties, oftentimes when we are at our weakest, such as right before sleep.

As we highlighted beforehand, meditation can help with anxieties and other issues. We recommend utilizing meditation if you are having trouble falling asleep, and it can also help you come to terms with some of the problems and issues in your life.

Additionally, psychotherapy can be fantastic to help you lead a less stressed, more present life.

Utilize A Weighted Blanket

Weighted blankets are a fantastic way to quickly and easily create a feeling of deep relaxation and comfort within your body. They work by activating Deep Pressure Touch (DPT), which is the same thing that occurs in your body when you are experiencing a comforting hug from a loved one.

This sensation helps you relax you on a neurological level, allowing you to easily fall asleep by quelling any feelings of weirdness or anxiety.

As a guideline, aim for about 10% of your body weight. The blanket will be beneficial in many cases of insomnia, anxiety, depression, or even if you simply want a better night’s sleep. We highly recommend utilizing one.

Lay Off The Caffeine

Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed substances in the world. Many of us turn to that cup of coffee in the morning without us even thinking about it, and then perhaps a second cup in the afternoon to help us get through the workday.

But did you know that caffeine actually has psychoactive effects on our minds and nervous systems?

Too much caffeine can lead to racing thoughts, anxiety, racing hearts, and more. Additionally, consuming too much caffeine late in the day can lead to trouble falling asleep at night, which may be contributing to the weird feelings you are currently dealing with.

Try switching to decaf or low-caffeine tea in the afternoon to prevent this from happening.

Block Out All Lights And Sounds

In order to have a more peaceful nights rest, we highly recommend picking up a high-quality sleep mask that can block out lights and sounds, thus allowing you to quickly and easily drift off to sleep without anxieties.

In many situations, not falling asleep quickly can lead to overthinking about sleep, how much we have to do tomorrow, etc, and thus create the weird feelings in the first place.

Relax & Establish A Routine

Do whatever you can before bed to try and relax, which can prevent weird feelings from appearing in the first place. This includes winding down with a nice book, going for a relaxing stroll around the neighborhood, or taking a nice long bath.

Establishing a simple routine can also do wonders with training your body to sleep at a certain time every night, thus allowing you to quickly fall asleep without worry.

Additionally, try your best to stay off of screens an hour (or more) before bedtime. Unfortunately, light from televisions, computers, phones, and tablets all transmit signals to our brain that tells us to stay awake, which makes it extremely difficult to fall asleep and thus can lead to feelings of weirdness or anxiety.

Instead of staring at a screen, simply switching to a book can do wonders and allow you to naturally become sleepy and thus quickly drift off to sleep without worry.

Conclusion

There you have it! Hopefully, this article will help you get rid of the strange feelings you are experiencing when trying to fall asleep. Please keep in mind, however, that this is not an exhaustive list – you could be feeling strange for a variety of other reasons, and you may find some additional things that comfort you.

However, for most people, this is a good start. If the weird feelings you are experiencing continue to occur night after night, we recommend consulting a mental health professional and a doctor to figure out exactly what is going on.