I've done journaling. Sometimes just writing my thoughts down is a great way to get them out of my head and sort them out. I write by hand with a favorite pen on unlined paper, so I don't have to worry about staying in the lines; sometimes I'll doodle too... I also practice mindful meditation. Even just a few minutes a day helps me get grounded and centered.

Sleep. And I have long, intimate conversations with my friends. It helps to clear my mind, and it lets my friends know I trust them with my innermost thoughts and feelings.

Rest, lots of sleep, but also rest. I am unable to break the mental exhaustion by sleep alone, I must get out of the situation that does it to me, often it is time limited, end of financial year etc.

A few tokes of some good indica puts me out like a baby. Mindfulness training (guided meditation) is a big help as well. It's all about reducing stress, which is your enemy. Good luck on your journey.

Meditation is my go to for nearly every problem I experience regarding my mental state, ESPECIALLY an over abundance of thoughts and the emotions that follow them. Consider looking into "Mindfulness Mediation".

I crochet. To me it is the most relaxing thing I do. When done with an item you have the added benefit of being creative and accomplished.

You are trying very hard to tell yourself something and you are resistant to listening to that inner self, so it is going to 'throw tantrums' and keep you awake. That's my take. What it is, only you can discover. We've all, or almost all, had such periods. Whatever is on your mind during those sleepless periods is your best clue. Examine it, decide on some self-promised course of action and slumber will occur. (another best guess) Good luck!

Meditation works for me, and if I can't quiet my mind on my own, I have some really good guided relaxation/meditaion tracks that do the trick nicely. Kelly Howell's Brain Sync stuff is usually what I go to. Centrepoint Holosync series is also excellent. Both have various tracks for different purposes and occasions.

Sarah, cut down on the coffee. I've suffered with chronic exhaustion since 2004. It came on suddenly. One day I was fine, next day I felt like I just "plowed the back 40". Never got a diagnosis. Go to the doctor and tell them you're not just tired. It's total exhaustion. It's finally easing up in the past year. I'm taking B12 and iron. Try it. Best of luck.

Oh man, I know what that's like. My go-tos are 1) Writing--whether organized journal entires, haphazard venting, or random scribbly lines of poetry or inspiration. Add pictures too, paste photos, create visual representations in whatever way you see fit just get your brain onto that paper. 2) Move my body--which I know is often the last thing ya feel like doing when you're anxious or depressed, but even getting up and jogging in place or aggressively scrubbing my counters has worked wonders for me before. I hope you find something that helps you.

I have to work really hard to override my brain. Guided meditation helps a lot as does yoga and journaling. A few years ago we had a very devastating family event. In addition to meds, I would watch a movie, hand see and carry on several text conversations at once just to be able to get out of my head.

But yeah, guided meditation. You can find apps like headspace or the calm or find them on YouTube. I'm hopeless at just meditating, but when I can focus on done one else speaking, it's helpful. It's also a learned skill like most everything else. It's hard at first, just keep doing it.

Protein, coffee, music, sleep

HANDS OFF my mental exhaustion, please!! How else am I supposed to distinguish between real pain and suffering from being a cry baby; or discern critical, speculative thought from what others want me to believe? Let's face it, 'no pain no gain' is like surviving the Donald Trump era without any scars, lost, or change of ideas.

Mental exhaustion is an ally to mental well being, it's your physical being telling you your emotions and mind had a profitable day. No human has ever evolved by living in a quiet world free of calamities. The only un-stressful people I know of are six-feet under; stress is good, distress can mean you took something the wrong way. I do believe!!

How do you get rid of it? All advice may prove unhealthy, for your needs, not sure if anything accept 'dreamless' rest can move you forward. Even without 'rem sleep' there is little chance the anxiety causing the problem will go away.

I was diagnosed as an insomniac, after several years of changing work to night, resolved to change my morning and afternoons to night and dawn appear to have taken care of the problem. If my insomnia was a problem in the first place. I think it might have been more of a functional energy level than anything else. Like, my energy level is higher at night, spring and summer than in the morning, afternoon, or winter. I’ve learned to go with flow of my body and strive to understand when something changes. Go against what your body wants, or against your own energy level, expect distress in your life.

I notice you live in Colorado... I believe you have herbal medications available. I used to say I don't get stress, mostly true, in fact, on occasion I'd take a train to NYC for a weekend, the excitement of the city was so distracting, I'd forget about everything else. We all need get away time, ocean, mountain vacations, but I like the convenience of herbs.

Sleeping always helps me..

Unfortunately as my brain never sleeps I can't tell you....

Well, idle hands yadda, yadda. Hobbies help. If you obscure your woes with trifling goals, the goals can add up to genuine accomplishments. Self esteem could florish.

In addition to rest, it is most helpful to get some kind of enjoyment into your life, especially laughter. Even a little goes a long way!

First --- make sure your diet is the most nutritious food you can afford and pack it full of high quality, nutrient dense foods. Second, cut unhealthy habits out of your life (i.e. alcohol, smoking, sleep deprivation, etc.). Third, set a sleep schedule and stick to it...and give yourself at least an hour of relaxation prior to going to sleep. Fouth, cut things that stress you out of your life to the greatest degree possible. Fifth, exercise regularly and learn to calm your mind and meditate. Finally, engage in hobbies that help expand your knowledge, release your creativity, and help you relax.

Walk, for hours in a forest, take a book, find a quiet place and sit and read. Ignore the world, leave your phone at home, pause, breath, nothing can stress you when you're on your own. I had a small stress breakdown a few years ago and I should have spotted the warning signs and taken my advice to you long before it got to me. I ended up selling everything I owned and spent two years travelling

I'm not a big drinker but sometimes a couple whiskey and Cokes will do the trick. I sleep more sound. I don't always wake up feeling better but it quiets my mind anyways

I normally sleep with the tv on so my brain has focus because I find silence noisy and my brain won't stop.

I go out to the beach

I hear meth helps!