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When I first started with Martin, I was an absolute mess. I was incredibly anxious and suffering from insomnia due to sleep phobia. I was working with another sleep psychologist and was getting worse instead of better. I was beginning to lose hope that anything or anyone would help. Even pills didn’t work. Martin is so knowledgeable and has such a comforting presence. He taught me effective methods and techniques and worked at a pace which was comfortable for me. He was so understanding and always answered my questions. Knowing that I had his support and reassurance helped me a lot. Over time I started to see some improvements which gave me hope and encouragement. My advice is to actually use the techniques and stick to them. No they will not be easy but they do work. I know I’m not the first person to say this but I feel that my case was so severe that if I can get better, you absolutely can too if you take Martin’s advice and stick to it until you see improvements. Improvements take time. There will almost inevitably be setbacks, just keep pushing forward. Everyone experiences setbacks as part of their recovery!
Hi Kat can you please explain which techniques helped you to the most. It would motivate many others like me who are in similar path.
Hi, Yes sure I can describe what worked for me. I must preface it by saying that the results were not immediate! I was very much resisting the anxiety I was feeling. What I learned to do instead is to sit with my anxious feelings and thoughts and just accept them. Also, when my mind would spiral into fearful thoughts, I would accept that I’m having the thought, I’d tell myself “OK, there is the thought again” and then re-focus on the present moment. Sometimes I’d imagine the thoughts floating on a leaf away from me until they became less and less intense. They would return over and over again and I’d just repeat the process over and over again.
There were many times that I felt frustrated or that it’s not working and I’d spiral into negativity but eventually with Martin’s help I’d get back on track. It sounds simple but I can say it’s the only thing that worked for me. I did sleep restriction too but the most important thing in my opinion is acceptance. I really hope this helps you Suchitra!Hi, I’d like to know, since Martin’s course is just 2 months and you’re talking about the results noe being immediate – how long in general it took you to get better?
Hi Judi,
In my experience the results were not linear. I experienced a few good days and then some slip ups until eventually the good days outnumbered the bad days. At first I thought 2 months was not enough time but it actually was and by the time I completed the course I felt equipped to be able to handle the bad days on my own
Thank you for what you shared. It is nice to know by consistently accepting your thoughts that you got peace.
Thanks Kat for sharing your experience on this journey. I could resonate myself in most cases you describe. As you say there are good and bad days but we learn to manage the setbacks better with less struggle and more on accepting it as part of process.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share — you experienced a change because of your curiosity, willingness, and commitment to make changes that are rarely easy to make!
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Hi Kat,
I get all the reassurance after watching the podcast and the way Martin patiently explains the situation on the sleep phobia. I too suffer from the same.
My question to you is
1. How did you start accepting the thoughts. I mean what exactly you started doing to accept the thoughts and how did it start fading away.2. Have you been able to overcome the thoughts on the night preceding an important day of your personal or professional life?
Regards
Sriram
Hi Sriram,
Regarding your first question, I started to accept my thoughts by not trying to get rid of them or distract myself from them. I would just say to myself something like …”OK, I’m having the thought again, it’s fine”. And sometimes I’d imagine the thought floating away. It always returned and so I repeated the process. I want to stress that I didn’t do it perfectly all the time and sometimes I’d get frustrated or I’d distract myself but no matter what I persisted in the acceptance until it became easier and easier.
Regarding your second question, for the most part yes. The thoughts come and go but they do not have the same intensity and when I do get them, I just accept them.I wish you luck!
Thanks for sharing. I haven’t been on this journey long but it is nice to hear success stories and to keep on. I am finding it hard too but by keeping going and following the guidelines set out for us by Martin we will have success. The secret is to keep going even when it is hard.
Guys these posts are very inspiring.i just don’t understand why I am torturing myself where this sleep phobia has come from.
I do it to myself and whatever I think will happen happens.
My mind is so negative at thr moment I can’t understanding why I’m doing this.like putting myself on the fight or flight sleep arousal state all the time and suffering through the next day. I’m really exhausted and I feel its all my fault.I just don’t know what to do anymore I feel that my brain is never going to switch off.im so tired though I need to relax can’t understand how relaxing has become so hard and this I can’t sleep in my head is ruining my life. Sorry but I’m having an exhausting week..I’m feeling so down about itHi Fifi ,
I’m
So sorry for what you’re going through . That was me and it’s so so scary . Do NOT blame yourself.
It’s completely normal what’s happened to you . Your body is just trying to protect itself and you need some self compassion . This will pass.
You will get out of this cycle and remember how to love sleep
And your bed again and you will have your life back .
It may seem like nothings working or when you make progress you go backwards . Just keep going .
What have you been trying ?
I signed up with Martin which really helped me as I felt I really wanted to feel less alone as I was scared of my shadow at that point but he still gives soo much away for free .
I think what helped me the most was getting on with my life regardless of how I slept. Going to the gym, seeing friends , not cancelling any plans . This makes sure that your life does not get small
Ans sleep
Doenst have an even bigger impact on your life . It really helped .
I also recommend therapy as to don’t get here without stress . I found EMDR helpful.
Wishing you luck . You can do this . Honestly .
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