[brianbhood]

I have followed Martin’s advice for almost two months now and I can say, after over 10 years of sleep issues, this program has helped me more than any pills, doctors, biofeedback specialists ever did. However, I still have a problem when I either cannot go to sleep or wake up in the middle of the night. I understand that getting angry does not help. It activates the arousal system and suppresses the sleep drive. However, it is not just that simple to me to change my thoughts or get out of bed and do something else.

I understand I am supposed to get out of bed, read a book, listen to music, etc. However, the longer this goes on, the angrier I get. I am angry at the fact that I even have to go through it (in bed or out of bed). My thoughts are “why am I even having to get up and read a book, listen to music, etc. Why am I not just sleeping through the night like I used to?” I’m not mad that I have to get out of bed (or stay in bed or anything else). I’m mad that I am awake, period.

Sometimes when I go to sleep, I will think of something pleasant. Maybe a family vacation or a memory of playing with my daughter when she was little. Those things, at 11:00 p.m. help me go to sleep. When I wake up at 2 a.m. and think those exact same thoughts, they do not work. I just lay awake getting madder and madder that they don’t work and I am awake. I know this activates the arousal system. It is a vicious cycle I guess.

Has anyone experienced this and have any advice on how to stay asleep so this doesn’t happen?

[SueE]

Brian – I feel your pain, I really do. The way I try to cope with my bouts of insomnia is simple acceptance of it, rather than trying to fight it. Martin advises carrying on with planned activities the next day, however bad you feel, so I try to practise this as much as possible though it isn’t always easy when you feel like crap! So in other words, carrying on living your life will take away its power and hopefully some of your anger. Another way of looking at it, instead of ‘why me?’ is to turn it around and think positively, i.e. that you are lucky it’s just insomnia, which is curable – You only have to listen to Martin’s podcasts to realise that! My best friend has Parkinson’s and I’m sure she’d much rather have my insomnia any day (or night).

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