[Jaran]

My introduction to CBT-I was about a month ago. I’ve had chronic insomnia for decades. It’s not situational, it’s always. I’ve seen numerous doctors, and I’ve tried what I thought was everything: “natural solutions” (i.e. all the sleep hygiene tips, herbs, diets, rituals, aroma therapy, essential oils, relaxation tapes, apps, etc… ), various medications (melatonin, OTC pills, ambien, trazadone), marijuana (legal in my state) and alcohol. After years of this, nothing really works anymore except maybe ever-larger amounts of alcohol, and of course there are very good reasons not to continue down that path!

In the middle of one night last month, I lay there in despair and thought, “I don’t even know how to sleep anymore. There has to be a better way!” I got up and started looking for a sleep study, only to find that the medical clinics in my area focus on sleep apnea, not insomnia. So I looked for a sleep clinic, or a therapist, or a hypnotist, or….. My search turned up CBT-I. Hmmmm, something new? After a few uninspiring short videos, I stumbled onto a 90 minute youtube round-table discussion by Martin Reed and two other sleep therapists. It was called “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia: The Deep Dive”.

So much of this video rang true. I realized there are many other people who struggle with insomnia like me, and there is hope! I watched that long video 3 times in the next few days, and dug into everything I could find online. I started right away with a sleep diary, and implemented the techniques they suggested.

I won’t tell you I sleep perfectly, but in just a month it’s much, much better. Setting an alarm for the morning (something this retiree hates) and getting out of bed when I don’t fall asleep have been the biggest changes. Actually, I take that back. The biggest changes were re-framing how I thought about sleep, dealing with all the anxiety I had developed surrounding sleep issues, and gaining confidence and hope.

[Scott]

Hi @Jaran!

Welcome to the forum! I’m glad to hear you’re achieving much better sleep through your own efforts of researching and implementing CBT-I techniques! I believe the video you’re referring to – that I think everyone could benefit from listening to – is found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h946sKnNjvw

Do let us know if you have questions along your journey and I can’t wait to hear about your continued progress!

Scott J

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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.

[Jaran]

Thank you. I should add, I also benefited greatly from Martin’s free two-week email course. How I looked forward to those emails with new insights and something to think about each day!

[Author]

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