Calm app

[Anonymous]

I see a lot of people recommending the Calm app. I downloaded it to help me fall back asleep when I wake up 2 hours after going to bed. My mind goes into overdrive and 2 hours later I’m still lying there reliving every past decision in my life.

I am still in the trial phase, and I’ve tried it for a few nights so far and it’s good but I don’t LOVE it. It seems like most of the sessions are the body scans which I can’t get into (mind wanders). Also the stories (wonder by McConaughey) don’t keep my attention and my mind still drifts.

How do you breathe with the guided breathing exercises? I do better with in through nose and out through mouth. I’ve tried out through nose as well, but my breaths are shallow when laying on my back and it’s hard to go the entire count. In -2-3-4-hold-2-3-4-out-2-3-4-5-6-7-8.

Also it’s distracting at 1am even with earbuds in my breath gets synchronized with my husband’s sleeping beside me instead; or as I’m relaxing he makes an abrupt move shifting in his sleep and makes it harder to really focus. I am considering moving to guest room as a test. Right now, I’m getting up most nights anyway when I cannot go back to sleep.

I have 3 more nights of the Calm app trial before the annual subscription auto charge. Should I just give it more time? Or Try something else?
What has worked for any of you?

[Anonymous]

It doesn’t appeal to me. I’d try some relaxing music, birdsong or ocean sounds or white noise.

[jsmith123]

I just downloaded this too and am not using it to its full extent. But, I'm going to buy it because I can afford to spend that money right now, and am willing to pay for anything that might help at all with my sleep.

Also, I know you didn't ask for a book recommendation, but I read The Sleep Solution earlier this year and got a lot out of it.

[Anonymous]

I like the headspace app - never tried calm but I’m sure it’s similar. Maybe try a trial of that? Don’t be too tough on yourself if your mind wanders , just try to bring it back.

[Anonymous]

I’ve never gotten you into calm but that’s mostly because I just don’t think to use it. For sleeping I really like Gail Seymour’s “Relaxing to Sleep”

[Anonymous]

I use calm more for mindfulness practice and anxiety reduction. My sleep has improved as I’ve addressed these things. The mindfulness practice also helps you deal with the wandering mind.

[Anonymous]

I love it. I do mostly the outdoor and train stories to sleep. Have never made it to the end. I loved the 30
Day meditation course. Jeff is the best. It has truly helped me to become more relaxed, easy going, open and happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like the headspace app - never tried calm but I’m sure it’s similar. Maybe try a trial of that? Don’t be too tough on yourself if your mind wanders , just try to bring it back.

It has nightime stories which I really like. There's this one that just describes cats who live on houseboats. No idea how it ends.