Subject: Why does actively watching phosphenes make me fall asleep?

I used to have insomnia for my whole life and jealously wondered how others 
went about falling asleep.  What do you 'do' to fall asleep?  I used to lie 
in bed for hours with my eyes closed wondering what was missing, even if I 
was exhausted.  Someone recommended that I actively watch the spots and 
patterns on my eyelids after I go to bed and it would cause some sort of 
'feedback loop' with my brain that would trigger a sleep state.  I have 
tried many things, including reading books by Dement, self-hypnosis, 
sunlight, fingers in the ears, and melatonin, and this is the only thing 
that really works every time within 5 minutes. Why? The phosphenes quiet 
down to almost nothing right before it works. 

[I doubt this is related to relaxing, as I can achieve a wonderful floating 
feeling that does not induce sleep for me.]  Most scientists thought stomach 
ulcers were caused by a failure to relax until it was demonstrated that a 
bacterium was actually causing the problem.

I have studied the problem in depth.  I do not want any tips on
how to fall asleep; my question is about the science of brain
function.  

Thanks.

Response:

Re: Why does actively watching phosphenes make me fall asleep?
I used to have insomnia for my whole life and jealously wondered how others 
went about falling asleep.  What do you 'do' to fall asleep?  I used to lie 
in bed for hours with my eyes closed wondering what was missing, even if I 
was exhausted.  Someone recommended that I actively watch the spots and 
patterns on my eyelids after I go to bed and it would cause some sort of 
'feedback loop' with my brain that would trigger a sleep state.  I have 
tried many things, including reading books by Dement, self-hypnosis, 
sunlight, fingers in the ears, and melatonin, and this is the only thing 
that really works every time within 5 minutes. Why? The phosphenes quiet 
down to almost nothing right before it works. 


_______________________________________________________________
Greetings - 

I think you may find the following discussion of insomnia useful:
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/sep99/936248972.Gb.r.html

From your description, I would hazard to guess that focusing on phosphenes 
is the particular strategy that you've developed to relax yourself into 
sleep, and that the relaxation is what is ultimately curing your insomnia. 
If you feel that the above site does not answer your questions 
satisfactorily, please submit a new question!

	Shelley Schlief, Admin MadSci Network

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Re: Why does actively watching phosphenes make me fall asleep?