[CFearon]

I’ve had small but acute episodes of insomnia throughout my 35 years but they’ve usually cleared up without much effort after a week or so. This episode is different, it’s lasted over 3 months and it escalated into severe anxiety and depression, which has lead to the prescription of anti-depressants. I’ve spoken to psychiatrists, general practitioners and psychotherapists and they all associate it with anxiety and believe it will be resolved with SSRIs and CBT. I am progressing with this but I never feel like they really understand the issue. Not one has raised the topic of hyperarousal. As soon as I read about hyperarousal in sleep coach emails and social feeds, I suddenly felt understood. However I’m at the start and I can’t see a way out yet. It’s scary because I’m pregnant and know that disrupted sleep is just around the corner anyway. I’m taking time off work which I want to go back to asap as part of the healing process. The best I can do for now is tell myself that it’s ok I’m not sleeping and distract my attention as much as possible. I’ve stopped using things like audiobooks because they became a crutch just like any other. I’m a little lost but just trying lots of things to make this period of life easier!

[Kpassanese]

I am there with you, only not pregnant (too old for that, mine are 21). I will tell you having my kids actually helped as it was a form of sleep restriction and you get so exhausted, you will sleep. I think part of my problem now is having nothing but myself to control the anxiety and I just can’t seem to wrap my head around it yet. I would love to work with Martin, just not in the budget, I’m trying to implement everything myself. Best of luck to you.

Kathy

[Martin Reed]

Congratulations on the pregnancy!

Where I think traditional CBT-I programs can sometimes fall flat is that they can gloss over the legitimate thoughts, feelings, and emotions we experience. We are often encouraged to evaluate them or to change them — but I think that can get us tangled up in an endless struggle with our minds.

Unfortunately, we can’t control sleep, we can’t control wakefulness, and we can’t control our thoughts, feelings, and emotions either (at least, not for the long term!).

So, the understandable (and probably default!) human response to this difficult stuff (trying to fight or avoid it) is often the true source of all our struggles.

With this in mind, a new approach might be worth exploring — and perhaps that approach might involve moving away from trying to control what cannot be controlled and toward things you can control.

Actions that simply help set the stage for sleep and actions that keep you moving toward the kind of life you want to live, even in the presence of difficult nights and all the difficult thoughts and feelings that can come with them.

I wonder what the outcome of that might be?

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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.

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