* In what ways have things improved since you completed the course?
When I completed the course, my sleeping improved in depth but not in length which was upsetting to me. However, one night I forgot to set my wake up alarm for my dedicated sleep window and I slept longer! I had forgotten that when I was working I would get anxious and would wake up prior to my alarm going off. After that I slept longer and deeper.
* How has the course continued to help you even after you finished it?
I’ve stopped identifying myself as an insomniac – now if I don’t sleep I know I will be fine. I don’t stop my life because I only got so much sleep – I don’t go to bed early – I just hold to my usual bedtime. I do meditate for about 30 minutes around 3 pm which educates my body that it is okay to just relax and not sleep. The exercising about 3 hours before I go to bed is helpful too.
* What was the most challenging (but effective) technique you learned from the course?
I think the sleep restriction window was the hardest – yet the most effective. My body needed to learn “really” tired again. When I meditate in the afternoon – the feeling is needing a rest vs. tired. After a rest – I am ready to take on the rest of my afternoon.
I am so thankful to this course and Martin Reed! I even got testy with him a couple of times – yet, he handled it with calm and humor. I was so glad of that! Because I had made the “not sleeping the # 1 problem” in my life and my Google news feed was agreeing with me all kinds of new solutions and warnings of not sleeping!
I can’t believe this is the same body that needed Trazadone for 30 years. I was suffering the side effects of Trazadone and didn’t even know it because I’d been on it for so long.
Thanks again to Insomnia Coach Martin Reed!