Just a note to the non-ADHD lurkers (we love you guys) my understanding is that this is an ADHD specific thing where we need the come down from stimulation to “switch off” sometimes - I think it’s probably awful advice for neutotypical folks and will just flood you with endorphins that keep you awake.
Also, as always, ADHD isn’t monolithic and your mileage may vary.
Ah wait this need for a “come down” from stimulation might explain a lot of things for me.
If I’m coming down from a long day/walk/etc. the tiredness hits me, but if I don’t go to bed and fall asleep fast enough, even if I’m relaxing, then I will no longer be sleepy and will struggle to fall asleep.
I have found a couple things help me pretty reliably. Listen to something calming and repetitive like white noise or rain sounds. Then have a mundane thing to think about and focus on. I will visualize starting with a cube of wood and slowly cutting the edges and corners of to make a sphere. Or imagine I am cleaning a flow with methodic sweeping and mopping.
Just a note to the non-ADHD lurkers (we love you guys) my understanding is that this is an ADHD specific thing where we need the come down from stimulation to “switch off” sometimes - I think it’s probably awful advice for neutotypical folks and will just flood you with endorphins that keep you awake.
Also, as always, ADHD isn’t monolithic and your mileage may vary.
Ah wait this need for a “come down” from stimulation might explain a lot of things for me.
If I’m coming down from a long day/walk/etc. the tiredness hits me, but if I don’t go to bed and fall asleep fast enough, even if I’m relaxing, then I will no longer be sleepy and will struggle to fall asleep.
I have found a couple things help me pretty reliably. Listen to something calming and repetitive like white noise or rain sounds. Then have a mundane thing to think about and focus on. I will visualize starting with a cube of wood and slowly cutting the edges and corners of to make a sphere. Or imagine I am cleaning a flow with methodic sweeping and mopping.
I play Solitaire on my phone with the screen really dim.
I suspect it works because it’s just engaging enough to start, and then the mindless repitition sets in and slows things down.