Sound Scenarios that Promote Relaxation

I went camping recently and had some of the best sleep in months. I was up in the Great Smoky Mountains and pitched a tent near a small river. Maybe it was the cool mountain air, or the fact that I was more tired than normal, but I fell asleep quickly and slept like a indigenous hibernating black bear. However, in retrospect I know it was the sounds. The gentle river sounds combined with the occasional birdcalls and haunting owls hoots or even the distant laughter of other campers combined to set a relaxing mood. It was breezy that evening so occasional gusts of wind blew through the giant oaks that encircled my campsite, rustling their leaves, and causing a pleasant sound akin to white noise. A campfire burned slowly causing an occasional crackle or pop. It was sound heaven. Sound that drowned out background noise (including my forever ringing ears) Sounds that help me relax and fall asleep.

As I think back over my life there have been plenty of other scenarios that had a similar effect on me. Living next to Puget Sound on Whidbey Island and hearing sea waves and sea birds.. combined with ocean wind that seemed to blow 24/7. Hiking to Akaka Falls on the Big Island of Hawaii, which is now forbidden, I recall hearing that roar of tropical pink noise as I approached. Another time I took Amtrak's Coast Starlight up through California and was rocked to sleep by the soothing clickety-clack of the train and tracks. You can find train sounds in a variety of forms on this website. I also found out I am a notorious airliner sleeper, ergo airline sounds. In all these environments I found I could sleep in, it was the saturating sounds that were the common denominator.

When we started VirtualDreamer.com the central idea was to make relaxing sounds that emulated a real environment as opposed to an ideal environment. Unlike sleep machines or online sound loops, the recordings change over time. Some of the sounds have audio effects that can be visualized and some are pure ambiance. Visualization induces sleep as when we imagine we are using the same section of our brains as when we dream. While we have dozens (I have lost count) of sounds for relaxation and sleep, there are dozens of audio scenarios we have yet to record. This website, in essence, is a work in progress and I truly hope it will survive long past my exit from this spiritual plane. As one who suffered for decades with insomnia these sounds help me. I am relatively certain they can help you too.

Dream good dreams!

Brad McBride

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Previous Sleep Thought Hypnagogia: The Sights and Sounds of Sleep

Sleep Thoughts of note: The Worst Insomniac, Visualizing to Sleep, Visualization Methods Using Sounds