Falling asleep with a CPAP mask isn’t always the easiest thing to do, especially if you’re only just starting to try to do it. Thankfully there are a lot of ways that you can make it much easier for yourself.
The first thing to do is to start off by easing into the CPAP therapy. This means allowing yourself to use the equipment for just a short while every day while you’re going about your daily tasks. This means that you will learn if there are any alterations that you need to make while you’re still conscious.
You can also do some things to make the mask a little more comfortable to use. One big problem is that having a CPAP mask that doesn’t fit correctly can often mean that the treatment doesn’t work properly. You want to avoid having issues with your mask. This may mean making really small alterations in front of the mirror just so that you know what you’re doing. Then you can attempt to lie down and then put the machine on to see how it feels for you.
Of course, you can also make yourself feel more comfortable by practicing general sleep hygiene. This means trying to fall asleep when your body tells you that it’s ready to do so. Make sure that you have a supportive pillow and mattress, and ensure that the room is quiet and dark. It should be at the right temperature too, should try to relax as much as possible before you go to sleep. For instance, you can do things like taking baths before you go to sleep, or you should read a book. Minimize the amount of time that you spend in front of a screen before you go to sleep.
One other thing to try is to practice a couple of different breathing techniques. These can be very helpful for helping you to get to sleep, and there are many of them available online for free.
Ultimately, learning to get to sleep with your CPAP routine can be rather challenging at first, but with a little time and patience it will certainly begin to feel worth it.