what , you have been trying that for 5 years.
what actually do you do when you meditate.
i found that guided meditation has helped me a lot. i listened to relaxing music where i hear the sound of the seas and ocean.
but i was relaxed the most when i listened to guided meditation.
well, i would tell you one thing. dont try to clear your mind. just focus on your breath. let the thoughts come. if you find yourself getting interested in the thought flow. stop. come back to watch your breath.
and yes, dont meditate with the intention of slowing down your thoughts or to clear your mind. do you sit while you meditate or do you lie down.
One thing that helped me was when i found the silva method and tried to use the alpha level technique.
basically it is that you first lie down in a comfortable position.
with your hands beside your body.
try to feel your whole body. feel your arms . hands,legs. torso. everything , even your eyelids. suggest to yourself that slowly and slowly your muscles are getting relaxed. your hands ,legs are getting relaxed. start from your legs and focus on each part. i.e. first say--i am feeling my right leg. my right leg is getting relaxed. my left leg is getting relaxed. focus on each of your toes and feel them getting relaxed. then keep working up to your face. your lips. your eyelids.
then you will feel that your body has sort of gone numb. and you wont be able to move yourself. keep telling yourself to relax more and more. deeper and deeper.
if you are good in visualization . see yourself as a leaf or a feather , floating slowly and slowly and keep relaxing more and more.
you will only notice the results when you wake up in the morning.
again , it is the intention. dont keep thinking. that hey, i am still not feeling relaxed. i am not feeling sleepy.
the point is to not to worry. if it doesnt work the first time. allow this technique to not work. soon, you will find, that it has started working and you are falling asleep in no time.
actually , you could find a free guided meditation thingie in my blog that i have in my signature.
i had actually done this technique from reading a book. but now, i find that guided meditations are available. i think guided ones should be much easier.because your thought flow wont be able to distract you.
hope this helps.
bye,
faraz