INSOMNIA Retiring at irregular hours often induces insomnia because sleep is a habit. The habit of sleep can be cultivated because the act of lying down in darkness and quiet is associated in the subconscious mind with the state of sleep. Since thought and feeling retire into the subconscious state during sleep, the subconscious is that part of the mind which functions during sleep, and it possesses the power to draw thought and feeling back into its depths and thus induce sleep. The subconscious mind may be led to produce the state of restful sleep by mental suggestions, and it will seek to carry out the most dominant suggestion it has received.
When wakefulness has become a habit of mind, much patient effort may be required in some cases to entirely overcome it; but rest assured, if the causes of nervous irritability are removed and the proper suggestions are given to the subconscious mind, refreshing sleep will become a permanent habit.
One should form the habit of casting aside all worries and cares, and even the thoughts of daily affairs, before getting into bed. The reclining position should be associated with the idea of sleep and rest of mind and body. Under no circumstances 135
