[Kmack]

I am 70 years old and have had a fairly good history of sleep.
Yet, prior to some big event for which I was preparing like a wedding, a presentation, a performance, hosting a party etc.,I would have several wakeful nights.
When the pressure was off, I’d return to steady sleep, averaging 7-9 hours .

Fast forward to THIS year .
Since September 2021 until present June 2022, I have struggled with insomnia more and more . I’ll be awake from 3am to 6am, getting by with three to five hours of sleep, feeling lousy the following day . A family crisis in September precipitated all this sleeplessness I believe. Without going into detail about specifics of that crisis, let’s just say it was traumatic . The last 8 months have been emotionally challenging for me, dealing with mending and healing broken relationships with our adult daughters and sons in law. Sleep deprivation is more the norm these days .

In mid March I randomly listened to a podcast interview of a sleep expert . I came away feeling defeated, as he insisted one MUST have 8-9 hours sleep minimum to be in good health .
This caused me more stress, I began a sleep journal, tracking my sleep patterns, started taking sleep aids, experimenting with GABA, Melatonin, CBD tincture and chews, herbal teas.
Sometimes they seem to help. Other nights, no help .

About two weeks ago, in late May I found Martin Reed by chance while searching internet net and instantly I felt a warmth and caring tone in his voice . I’m learning some things already from him and one of them, I THINK, is that sleep aids are not encouraged. So,last night after 11weeks of taking something by mouth for sleep I had a cup of herbal tea only . I woke at 4:15, which I didn’t like but I got out of bed and wrote this, my first post . I would love to have 7 hours of sleep and maybe I can?
I’m learning what I can about sleep restriction, sleep windows,sleep pressure, arousal , befriending wakefulness, circadian rhythm, acceptance .. these are all NEW terms to me . I’m willing to put the time into this learning process . I trust things will get better .

[Martin Reed]

Welcome to the forum!

I am not sure many 70-year-olds get 7 hours of sleep at night! Germany’s Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care found that the “average” person gets about six and a half hours a night between the ages of 55 and 60, with a healthy 80-year-old usually sleeping about six hours a night.

A panel of sleep experts gathered by the National Sleep Foundation found that for adults 65 and over, as little as 5 hours of sleep may be appropriate!

The truth of the matter is, we all require varying amounts of sleep. We don’t all wear the same size shoe. We don’t all need the same amount of sleep. And, there are always happy and healthy people who live outside of any established “average”!

It sounds as though you are recognizing that all your previous sleep efforts weren’t proving to be helpful — and that makes sense, since they help train the brain to believe that nighttime wakefulness is a threat that it needs to be alert to protect you from (otherwise, why else would you be trying so hard to avoid nighttime wakefulness).

If you have any questions as you continue to explore all the new techniques you are discovering, please let us know!

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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.

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