Do you struggle from Restless Mind Syndrome (RMS)?
Overview
Restless mind syndrome (RMS) is a condition characterized by a seemingly uncontrollable urge to think continuously without rest, most commonly at night when one should be sleeping.
RMS can begin at any age and generally worsens as you age. It can disrupt sleep, which interferes with daily activities.
People typically describe RMS symptoms as abnormal, unpleasant thoughts in their mind that they cannot control or stop.
Simple self-care steps and lifestyle changes may help. Many times medications are also used to overpower a restless mind to help force sleep.
The Symptoms
The chief symptom is the inability to stop thinking when it is undesired, mainly at night but can be experienced any time of the day.
- Sensations that begin after rest. The sensation typically begins after one sits or lies down, although it can also happen while driving, exercising, and getting ready in the morning.
- Relief with entertainment. The sensation of RMS lessens with entertainment, such as movies, social media, YouTube, Netflix, video games, music, audio books, and reading. However, some report that entertainment does not help whatsoever.
- Worsening of symptoms in the evening. Symptoms occur mainly at night.
Sometimes the sensations are difficult to explain. Affected people usually don’t describe the condition as a muscle cramp or numbness. They do, however, consistently describe the desire to keep thinking.
It’s common for symptoms to fluctuate in severity. Sometimes, symptoms disappear for periods of time, then come back. It is a spectrum condition with some people experiencing only a minor annoyance and others having major disruption of sleep and impairments in quality of life.
Causes
Often, there’s no known cause for RMS. Researchers suspect the condition may be caused by several phenomena.
Heredity
Sometimes RMS runs in families, especially if the condition starts before age 40.
Worry and Anxiety
Most who struggle with RMS when queried about the condition report worry and anxiety as part of the experience. Their thinking is focused on imminent, future, or unknown circumstances related to their relationships, vocation, responsibilities, health, and other such concerns.
Anger, Bitterness, or Malice
For some, RMS relates primarily to events in the past which were unpleasant, undesired, and possibly uncontrollable. Frequently when one has not dealt with the past in a godly way, anger and related sins become the usual response. When this happens, RMS often results.
Discontentment
RMS is common whenever someone experiences discontentment with some thing, some one, or God. The focus of his or her thinking is the unpleasantness of the moment, the circumstance, the feeling, or a relationship. The thinking is focused on areas of life that are uncomfortable, disappointing, and frustrating.
The Experience of RMS Itself
The more one struggles with RMS, the more easier it is to continue to struggle with RMS. The mind develops a habit where when a person goes into “neutral” and there is nothing specific to think about in a particular circumstance, then the mind naturally goes back to its regular pattern of thinking. The more one struggles, the easier it becomes to continue to struggle.
The Solution
There are two issues to address related to the solution for RMS.
First, thinking never stops for any person. The issue is not whether or not one thinks, the issue relates to whether or not the process of thinking is pleasant. Some people offer the wish prayers, “I just wish I could quit thinking.” “I just wish my brain would stop.” “I just my mind could rest.” These statements in context are understandable. What the person means is, “I just wish I could quit thinking in unpleasant ways.” The unpleasantness of the thinking process causes sleeplessness, more discomfort, higher anxiety, and generally moodiness. As these things increase, lack of sleep then further complicates the issue as it goes from one day to the next to the next.
Second, thinking is a process to help solve problems, lessen anxiety, and enjoy rest. God made thinking to benefit not torture the thinker. Thinking is part of worship process as well. One of the better passages to consider how this works is Philippians 4:6-9. Notice how this works.
Pray. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Here, Paul encourages praying. Whatever it is that you desire, about which you are concerned, or wish, bring that concern to God in prayer. Talk with Him about it. Ask Him. Discuss it with Him. Confess where you are struggling to trust God in your circumstance. Like Jesus, make sure you ask for God’s will to be done even in light of your personal desires.
Make sure this conversation with God is coated in thanksgiving or gratitude. In other words, recognize that God in His providential care uses the thing for which you are concerned to help you become more like Christ. This circumstance fits in God’s greater plan to help you grow in your character and conduct. Therefore, as you ask God your specific requests, also thank Him for being in control, working all things according to what is best to help you grow, and for loving you enough to provide those kinds of circumstances.
Consider/Meditate/Think. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8). Paul provided a cluster of categories upon which you can land or rest your thinking. This takes work to break the habit of typical thinking. Instead of continuing to focus on the unpleasantness of your situation or future unknowns, think through these categories. Focus on those things that fit these qualities. Among other things, for sure the character of God, the love demonstrated in Christ on the cross, the implications of the gospel provide wonderful places to focus your attention.
Quality music that focuses on Christ, the gospel, your relationship with Christ, and the cross is also helpful. At least a half hour before bed (maybe even one hour before bed), turn off other electronic media, put away other books, and begin to focus your mind on Christ before ever going to bed. As you prepare for bed, play quality music with God-honoring lyrics. Focus on the words. Contemplate them. Make them your own.
Obey God. “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9). Where you know to do what is right, do it. Don’t let yourself stop short of obedience. Talk with other people who can help you determine how best to obey. Determine what your options are to not respond selfishly. Consider what it means to love creatively. Then do those things. Need to forgive? Forgive. Need to creatively love? Do it. Need to serve? Then serve. Obedience is an important step to help you stop RMS.
The Result
Once you have meditated on what honors God, prayed throughout the process, and then consistently obeyed, you will enjoy the peace of God. It will not happen overnight or in a couple of nights; however, do not let that stop you. In a matter of days, your RMS will lessen. God’s peace impacts your entire life, including when you lay down to sleep. You are choosing to use your mind and the thinking process to put you in a better place. You take what normally is an unpleasant process and use it instead to give you strength. You sleep better because your mind is on Christ, trusts God’s character, and uses your energy to serve God and others rather than yourself. You never quit thinking; instead, your thinking takes you to a better place with God and others. You enjoy the peace God brings to you.
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