--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I couldn't sleep for nights on end, as my…" description: "\"I couldn't sleep for nights on end, as my brain felt like there were thoughts colliding within it; I obsessed over small details, from saving pennies a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/andy-behrman-22769_brain_i-couldn-t-sleep-for-nights-on-end-as-my_2871331.png" --- # I couldn't sleep for nights on end, as my brain felt like… ![“I couldn't sleep for nights on end, as my brain felt like there were thoughts colliding within it; I obsessed over small details, from saving pennies and polishing each one of them to washing my clothing over and over in the washing machine.” quote by Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/andy-behrman-22769_brain_i-couldn-t-sleep-for-nights-on-end-as-my_2871331.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/andy-behrman-22769_brain_i-couldn-t-sleep-for-nights-on-end-as-my_2871331.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/andy-behrman-22769_brain_i-couldn-t-sleep-for-nights-on-end-as-my_2871331.png) > “I couldn't sleep for nights on end, as my brain felt like there were thoughts colliding within it; I obsessed over small details, from saving pennies and polishing each one of them to washing my clothing over and over in the washing machine.” [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obsessive focus on minutiae and hygiene reflects anxiety and a need for control. **In simple terms:** Anxiety drives obsessive habits. Key Takeaway Address underlying anxiety. Themes anxiety obsession control Mood anxious introspective Type psychological observational When to use this quote - Workplace - personal hygiene - financial budgeting Key Concepts mental health compulsion stress Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your compulsions? - How can you balance control and flexibility? A Different Perspective Obsessions can become maladaptive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Clothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothing/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Nights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nights/) [Saving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saving/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Small details](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-details/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) ## Related quotes > [“Her brain felt like a horse on a carousel, always moving but going nowhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/her-brain-felt-like-a-horse-on-a-carousel-always-moving-but-going/) [Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/) > [“Steph?” “Huh?” I still had my hands on his stomach, and I could feel him laughing. “I can smell something burning, babe. You must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/steph-huh-i-still-had-my-hands-on-his-stomach-and-i-could-feel-him/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [My brain must have felt sorry for me, so it'd created the only type of guy I could touch - a fantasy one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-brain-must-have-felt-sorry-for-me-so-it-d-created-the-only-type-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I couldn't sleep." "Bad dreams?" "No dreams." It was a husky whisper. "That was the problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/i-couldn-t-sleep-bad-dreams-no-dreams-it-was-a-husky-whisper-that-was/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [The day I pitched, I would drink either 'cause I was celebrating or I lost and couldn't sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-gooden/the-day-i-pitched-i-would-drink-either-cause-i-was-celebrating-or-i/) [Dwight Gooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-gooden/) > [“ It’ s a lot to process,” she said. “ What Sebastian said, what happened last night, everything. I need to sleep, but I’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-s-a-lot-to-process-she-said-what-sebastian-said-what-happened-last/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“(...) I knew I couldn't sleep with her. I don't know - in my small experience of women, I've found it to hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mcliam-wilson/i-knew-i-couldn-t-sleep-with-her-i-don-t-know-in-my-small-experience/) Robert McLiam Wilson > [His insomnia was so bad, he couldn't sleep during office hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-baer/his-insomnia-was-so-bad-he-couldn-t-sleep-during-office-hours/) [Arthur Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-baer/) > [ But \[Pooh\] couldn't sleep. The more he tried to sleep the more he couldn't. He tried counting Sheep, which is sometimes a good way… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-pooh-couldn-t-sleep-the-more-he-tried-to-sleep-the-more-he-couldn/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I couldn’t go to sleep. I kept hearing him calling me, wanting me. I got up and drifted down the hall and again got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews-2/i-couldn-t-go-to-sleep-i-kept-hearing-him-calling-me-wanting-me-i-got/) V.C.Andrews > [“If I couldn't sleep, I could read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carson-levine/if-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-read/) [Gail Carson Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carson-levine/) > [“Yeah, Ace, fucked you so hard you couldn’t move. Couldn’t do anything but sleep. Exhausted you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/yeah-ace-fucked-you-so-hard-you-couldn-t-move-couldn-t-do-anything/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [I couldn't sleep one night and I was sitting in my office and I realized that I was an independent filmmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-aronofsky/i-couldn-t-sleep-one-night-and-i-was-sitting-in-my-office-and-i/) [Darren Aronofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-aronofsky/) > [“I squinted against the light pouring into the room. I couldn't sleep all night, knowing when the sun came up, it would be all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-squinted-against-the-light-pouring-into-the-room-i-couldn-t-sleep/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) ## More by Andy Behrman > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [When I'm manic, I'm so awake and alert, that my eyelashes fluttering on the pillow sound like thunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/when-i-m-manic-i-m-so-awake-and-alert-that-my-eyelashes-fluttering-on/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [Friends and family were convinced I was functioning just fine because I was efficient, productive and successful - who wouldn't be working twenty hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/friends-and-family-were-convinced-i-was-functioning-just-fine-because/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [People accuse me of glamorizing mental illness. Looking back sometimes, that's true. But I don't feel guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/people-accuse-me-of-glamorizing-mental-illness-looking-back-sometimes/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [The little depression I experienced during my manic-depression was not like depression as anyone else had ever described it. It was very violent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/the-little-depression-i-experienced-during-my-manic-depression-was/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [Like Sylvia Plath, Natalie Jeanne Champagne invites you so close to the pain and agony of her life of mental illness and addiction, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/like-sylvia-plath-natalie-jeanne-champagne-invites-you-so-close-to/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [In my most psychotic stages, I imagine myself chewing on sidewalks and bulging and swallowing sunlight and clouds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/in-my-most-psychotic-stages-i-imagine-myself-chewing-on-sidewalks-and/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [Weekly $25,000 shopping binges at Barney's and "high end" boutiques for clothes I barely wore were the norm. So were lavish meals with friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/weekly-25-000-shopping-binges-at-barney-s-and-high-end-boutiques-for/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [I counterfeited Mark Kostabi's artworks. During the eighties, Mark didn't paint his own paintings. Instead, he had other artists painting them, and he just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/i-counterfeited-mark-kostabi-s-artworks-during-the-eighties-mark-didn/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [The guilt I felt for having a mental illness was horrible. I prayed for a broken bone that would heal in six weeks. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/the-guilt-i-felt-for-having-a-mental-illness-was-horrible-i-prayed/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [There are lots of people with mental health disabilities, and that's just the way their life is; it's not like you see it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/there-are-lots-of-people-with-mental-health-disabilities-and-that-s/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [“Bipolar disorder is about buying a dozen bottles of Heinz ketchup and all eight bottles of Windex in stock at the Food Emporium on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/bipolar-disorder-is-about-buying-a-dozen-bottles-of-heinz-ketchup-and/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [I think almost all manic depressives exhibit some kind of criminal behaviour, even if it's something as minimal as shoplifting, but then they often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/i-think-almost-all-manic-depressives-exhibit-some-kind-of-criminal/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [In total, I was diagnosed with depression by eight psychotherapists and psychiatrists over a period of thirteen years. Diagnosed wrong. Absolutely wrong. My accurate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/in-total-i-was-diagnosed-with-depression-by-eight-psychotherapists/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) > [I felt like I was the only person on the planet with this 'thing called depression', and I remember being frightened. I was knocked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/i-felt-like-i-was-the-only-person-on-the-planet-with-this-thing/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Explore all 27 Andy Behrman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I couldn't sleep for nights on end, as my brain felt like there were thoughts colliding within it; I obsessed over small details, from saving pennies and polishing each one of them to washing my clothing over and over in the washing machine.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andy Behrman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/i-couldn-t-sleep-for-nights-on-end-as-my-brain-felt-like-there-were/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/i-couldn-t-sleep-for-nights-on-end-as-my-brain-felt-like-there-were/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/andy-behrman-22769_brain_i-couldn-t-sleep-for-nights-on-end-as-my_2871331.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/andy-behrman-22769_brain_i-couldn-t-sleep-for-nights-on-end-as-my_2871331.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/andy-behrman-22769_brain_i-couldn-t-sleep-for-nights-on-end-as-my_2871331.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I couldn't sleep for nights on end, as my brain felt like there were thoughts colliding within it; I…” — Andy Behrman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Andy Behrman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I couldn't sleep for nights on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/i-couldn-t-sleep-for-nights-on-end-as-my-brain-felt-like-there-were/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/i-couldn-t-sleep-for-nights-on-end-as-my-brain-felt-like-there-were/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```