[Sydonia044]

Are there any success stories of people on here with long term chronic insomnia getting better? I feel as though I’m at my wits end at the moment only being able to get perhaps 1 hour of fragmented sleep if I’m lucky at about 5 am in the morning. I could do with a little hope as been feeling extremely low. I’m not sure how some of you have managed to keep going when you’ve had years of it I’ve been suffering for just over a month and been experiencing suicidal thoughts from the mere frustration and exhaustion from it all as well as it giving me physical issues and amplifying an existing mental health condition. The mental health team in the UK really don’t take it seriously at all either they just keep emphasising drugs and sleep hygeine tips such as takig a warm bath and drink a cup of warm milk -_-

[Nilesnov]

I understand where you are coming from. I am in the same boat. You don’t know when you will be able to sleep next. This disorder is taking it’s toll on me and I  have had it for a month now. I am so suppose to  work with a therapist for CBT-I ,next week. I hoping he can help me.   Do have you  have  places  that offer CBT-I therapy where you live? I would take advantage it, if you do. My advise to you is to just hang in there and keep a positive mindset.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by Nilesnov.

[Sydonia044]

Hi Nile,

Thank you for reaching out and relating to what it’s like. How much sleep are you getting at the moment? Do you know what triggered your insomnia? I too am wwaiting to see a CBTI therapist, but sadly the wait times can be long.

Matt

[Steve]

Hi Sydonia. Here is a story I found on the Internet that gives those of us using SR and SC some hope. Although it’s from 2014, I think it’s still relevant.

https://news.vcu.edu/article/Sleep_boot_camp_A_wakeup_call_for_chronic_insomnia_sufferers

[Sydonia044]

Thank you Steve, I’m just trying to cling onto some hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. How are you?

[Steve]

How am I? Exhausted! lol. Last night was my fifth night on sleep restriction and I had to keep getting out of bed and going to another room because I couldn’t sleep. All in all, I got about 2 and a half hours of sleep out of 5.5 hours. That’s three low sleep days in a row and I felt it today at work. My biggest problem is trying to stay awake throughout the day without taking “microsleeps”. Hopefully I’ll start to sleep better soon but I’m reading some people are on SR 6 weeks before they start sleeping better. I hope I can stay on SR that long. I sincerely hope you are doing better.

[Sydonia044]

Keep going Steve you’re doing well! I do relate though as I’mnot even getting 2 hours unless I take a dreaded pill. I’m sure I’ll be implementing the SR soon myself and like yourself not looking forward to the getting out of bed part! When you say microsleeps are you falling asleep and not being aware? Never really understood the term. Hopefully it won’t take you that long just keep consistent bud you can beat this!

[Steve]

That’s one definition of it. I use the term to describe it when you momentarily nod off and then snap back awake. When you start SR, get everything ready ahead of time. Like your reading material. Blanket if it’s sold. Deck of cards. Things that will keep you occupied. Don’t wait until you start because then you’ll have to look around for things to do.

[Martin Reed]

Hello sydonia044

You can find some success stories in this post:

https://insomniacoach.com/forums/topic/client-for-6-weeks-so-far/#post-28928

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If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.

The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

[Chirppy]

Hi I to was the same last year but sleeping alternate nites

..I’ve experienced the 1/2 he nights as well…one morning I got up after ohrs and started living again..going out enjoying myself etc insomnia made me housebound basically for a few mths I’m now sleeping every nite last four mths I ditched the routines as for me caused more anxiety

Stayed in bed even if I didn’t sleep as it was making me more hyper and awake and just rested..I do get the one night a week were I get 2 hrs and Martin has said this is normal also insomnia takes a while to develop ..so takes a while to get back to whatever is normal for you..you will eventually sleep well again.take care

[Deb]

Hi Sydonia,

I was a total mess a little over three weeks ago having high anxiety, depression and panic attacks. I’ve had my insomnia since October. I had to go to the emergency room in March because I was completely falling apart feeling so crazy from the sleep deprivation and super depressed because I felt like the insomnia was taking my life away from me. I was almost suicidal.

I hired Martin 3 weeks ago and it’s amazing the difference. I’m sleeping 6 to 6.5 hours per night on average and the anxiety has gone way, way down. Of course for some people, the improvement doesn’t come as fast, but CBT-I definitely works. It’s too bad that there isn’t more awareness of CBT-I. Even a lot of sleep doctors don’t know about it. So people like you (and us on the forum) suffer because we didn’t know where to turn for answers and feel hopeless. But it’s not hopeless. CBT-I works, but it’s not easy so its best to hire a coach like Martin to get you through this.

[Deb]

My regular counselor also didn’t understand it and suggested the warm bath and milk….. Most people don’t understand it. Doctors want to give you pills and counselors think you just need to work on your anxiety. But CBT-I is the answer.

[Sydonia044]

Hi Deb,

I can completely understand how you felt as I’m experiencing those problems now and had to go to AE last night. May I ask how many hours you were sleeping when it was bad? I’m so glad that things have gotten better for you! May I also ask what protocols Martin gave you to get your sleep on track and if you’re also taking any kind of medication for your anxiety and sleep? I think I may very well have to hire Martin.

OMG! Warm bath and a cup of warm milk lol. You must be from the UK like myself? Because that’s all the mental health team seem to want to advise it’s truly crazy how most of them put such little emphasis on how important sleep is.

Thank you for sharing your story

 

[Deb]

My sleep was all over the place – sometimes 6 hours, sometimes 2, sometimes none. I was taking Ambien but would sometimes wait to see if I could sleep first. But usually it wasn’t until 2 or 3 that I would finally give up and take the pill. But my sleep wasn’t that great with the Ambien either. Sometimes it was good but other times I’d wake up all groggy and not feeling like I slept well.

This is actually my second time doing CBT-I with Martin. I did the 8 week course in Jan and Feb but lost faith in it because I was still having a couple bad nights a week. Now I understand what I did wrong but at the time I didn’t. So I got off the program and took a long detour for a couple months, only to get worse and worse. When I got back onto the program it only took a couple days to start getting better. I did the sleep window of 6.5 hours from 12 to 6:30 and the getting up when I couldn’t sleep. That’s all.

I started taking Effexor for the anxiety the same time I started the program. It usually takes 2 to 3 weeks to kick in. Since I was getting good results within the first week I starting feeling a lot better soon. I think the program helped me the most but my husband swears it’s the medication. We always have this disagreement!

[Sydonia044]

Hi Deb,

Thank you again for your reply. So, you basically just stuck with a set bed and getting up time and followed the 30/30 rule? Do you always unwind before going to bed? If you can’t sleep and you get up what would you do for 30 minutes? Do you turn off all electronics an hour before bed? Sorry for all the questions.

[Author]

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