Thread: I have a strange sleep-related fobia..

Nothing quite like that, but I can't stand stuff pressing on my neck any time - and especially when trying to sleep.

I sleep with a pillow rotated 90 degrees from the usual orientation - starting at my head and going down to my chest. Keeps my neck quite in the clear.

Or you might try sleeping without a pillow.

Yeah sleep without a pillow. Or use a ridiculously soft pillow so you know there's no chance anything will happen.

I always use 2 very soft pillows, one being a bit harder.
I also have to elevate my head in JUST the right angle to be able to sleep comfortably.

And don't worry about dying due to cut off bloodcirculation; people have been sleeping on the most rediculously uncomfortable beds and no one ever died from sleeping in a wrong position. Try googling for images of ancient Egyptian beds. Especially check out their "pillows". You'll understand that you have nothing to fear right away

PS: besides my head needing to be in JUST the right angle, I first lay on myback, then turn onto my left side, then turn onto my rightside. Usually somewhat later I lay on my back again and eventually fall asleep on my right side. Like every night... very strange o_Õ

Originally Posted by Rodent

Well, I find it hard to find a proper sleeping positions. Because.. I fear the pillow pushin against my neck too much and therefore cutting of the circulation and causing death or something bad to me Because of this I can't fall asleep easily as I have to find a "safe" way to sleep. Does someone have similar thing?

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

Yeah sleep without a pillow. Or use a ridiculously soft pillow so you know there's no chance anything will happen.

That has to be one of the most odd sleeping phobia's I have ever heard of in my life. No one has ever died from having their circulation cut off from a pillow and in that I am 99.999999% sure. Like said people myself included have slept in some of the most awkward positions imaginable and nothing has happened except for maybe a Kinked neck (Strained) which was sore when we woke up or bad sleep.

Don't worry you will be fine like Mes said try sleeping without a pillow if you are afraid of dying.

Aye, don't worry, I sleep at an incredibly high angle of my neck. That is, I sleep on my back and I absolutely can't sleep flat (get dizzy or ill or just uncomfortable), I put my pillow up against the wall/bed-part behind it at an angle and put my head on the pillow and against it too so that it's quite higher and at an angle. I've slept like this for ages and nothing. Not even scoliosis, heh.

hmmm. I always find it interesting that some people are afraid of things that I have never even thought about, and I'm OCD (not as bad as I was when I was younger and not really in ways that interfere with my life) and I think in that kind of way. I know how you feel Rodent and people telling you not to worry about it probably isn't gonna make you change. Have you always been like this or is this a more recent thing. I go through things like that sometimes and they cycle and I forget about them. I think you just need to meditate or have a serious talk with yourself and just think about why it is an irrational fear. Everyone sleeps every night and we all wake up the next morning ok. Your body wakes itself up if you are sleeping on a limb wrong. Maybe listen to music in bed or even better talk radio! (my personal favorite because it always puts you to sleep:p) They will keep your mind off of it and educate you. Good luck with it and know your not the only one with these kinds of fears.

Oh thank you for your replies. I don't know what caused the phobia, but it feels strange if something is touching my neck. Ok, the fear isn't severe but unpleasant.