[trailrunner85]

I started my insomnia journey almost two years ago. I call it a journey because in some ways it will never be over but in other ways it never began… I never had a problem. None of us do. It’s life, and how we respond to it. As the course teaches, some people are more predisposed, some may have severe hyperarousal, and some may just be really Type A and want to control EVERYTHING (this is me…).

I have taken the formal six-week course and even had a meeting with Martin. Since completing the course about 4-6 months ago, I occasionally get an email asking me to complete a survey and am encouraged to put a post up about my recovery for others.

I always start to write something then delete it. So here goes nothing.

Last night was tough for me. I have not had a night like that in a while (~ 3 weeks). Typically, I have a tough night maybe once a week where I struggle falling asleep.

Rather than talking as others do about how after the course they respond differently and yada, yada, yada, I am not going to do that. I still hate being up at night. It sucks. And like many others, I have reframed things and so I don’t get upset—I don’t like it, but I deal with it in a more positive way. I also still don’t enjoy being exhausted. Now, enough of that…

What I am trying to say is this course will and won’t do things to help you. It will make you realize there is nothing wrong with you, nor has there been anything wrong with you. It will give you tools to chill out when facing a tough night to help you redirect your focus.

I look back over some of my old posts and notes to myself from only a year ago and see where I said I couldn’t work towards improvement because I was training for a 50k or because I had a project at work… I NEEDED my sleep. I took my OTC sleeping pills often. But whether it’s stress, fear of not sleeping, training for a big event, or any other chaos going on in your life, these things will never go away—its life. There will always be something that keeps you up at night from time to time – this happens to most people in one way or another. So, my message or take-away… Live your life, love your life, and DO IT TIRED.

[Bronte]

Hi trailrunner 85
I love your update! It’s real and true and I agree with everything you said. I think you have done very well if you sleep ok most of the time with an occasional bad night. As you say, the bad ones are always awful and like you I have learnt to deal with it in a more positive way. However, I still struggle every night and only ever sleep 2-4 hours with many nights with no sleep at all.

I completely agree that sleep is highly impacted by what is going on in your life and it will always fluctuate.

I have given up with using any medications, OTC or otherwise, as I find the side effects outweigh the benefits. I’ve even tried the new tablet available that doesn’t sedate but works on the ‘staying awake’ receptors (daridorexant) but the side effects were too unpleasant. Also, of course, taking any medication is not helping solve insomnia in the long run.

I don’t know the answer either but I love your philosophy to ‘live your life, love your life and DO IT TIRED!! I just wish I wasn’t exhausted every day. If I find the solution I will be shouting from the rooftops. Thank you so much for your thoughts and good luck!!

[sleep]

yes live tired if you have to! Love that. I go 2 to 3 months and then have a bad night for some reason. I use to never do this but 2 years ago I got insomnia and now it seems I am very sensitive for some reason.

The only time I remember being up in my 70 years was when I went thru a divorce which I only missed one night of sleep and went and took something called sominex and never had any more problems. Also if I drank hot tea at a chinese restaurant I didnt sleep. Otherwise I slept great. But 2 years ago I got on a bp medicine and then must have been allergic and got insomnia. Even after being off the med which I didnt need I still could not sleep for 2 years.

Martin Reed helped me a lot, I quit worrying that I would get a stroke or heart attack if I didnt sleep. I just said I will sleep eventually if not tonight, tomorrow. For some reason this helped me. But for some reason if life happens like the other night my husb asked me a question in middle of the night when he went to the bathroom and I was up the rest of the night. If not that it will be something else. My son called one night at 10:30 and I couldnt get back to sleep. So I agree it is life, but mine is a lot better so I am grateful~

[Author]

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