[sleep]

I got the two week emails and wow what a difference. I have been struggling with a bad case of insomnia for 2 years. Doctor put me on bp medicine and I must have been allergic, I did not sleep any that night, he tried me on 2 more, same thing. I had never had a hard time. I was a wonderful sleeper til then. I was taken off the bp medicine, another doctor said I just had that white coat syndrome and my bp was not even a problem.

By then I could not sleep, it has been a nightmare, up all night, tossing and turning. I worried I would never sleep again. I could really relate to when Bryan said he got allergic to medicine when he got sick and then got insomnia. I think it was #61 post.

I decided to just say well if I sleep I sleep and if not sleep will come eventually. No more saying oh no what if I dont sleep tonight. I was afraid I would have a stroke or heart attack if I did not sleep. Now I know sleep will come eventually. Martin Reed gave me so much peace when he said this.

I got off trazadone, then benadryl I tried and that quit working so I did not take anything one night and slept good. Before this I was afraid to not take something. A couple of nights I took one benadryl and one night I took an ibuprofen. Then I didnt need anything and I slept all night. No tossing and turning, it is wonderful.

I began to wake up earlier in the morning than I wanted to but when I stayed up an hour later that worked out also. I sleep 12-7. It is hard to believe worry could cause you not to sleep. I didnt have anything to worry about except worried I couldnt sleep. Now I reassure myself I can sleep.

I am looking forward to a beach trip next week. I use to be scared I would not sleep but now I am living life whether I sleep or not. I am just allowing sleep to come when it wants to. If I dont sleep well one night as well it is no big deal, sleep will come back. This has given me so much peace. I also realize I am not alone, so many people have had insomnia, who knew?

Looking at all my successful nights this month has helped me know I can sleep. What a miracle! Thanks so much Martin Reed and also for sending me emails which have helped so much.

[Martin Reed]

Thank you for sharing!

You know that you CAN sleep! You’ve learned from your experience. You’ve shifted away from a focus on actions intended to make sleep happen (something that created more difficulty and struggle) and toward actions that better reflect your values — who you are, who you want to be, and the life you want to live.

As you take this approach, you are starving insomnia of the oxygen it needs to survive. It is losing its power and influence over you. With less struggle comes more peace.

You are noticing change happening because you are making change happen! I wish you all the best as you continue to move forward!

—

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.

[sleep]

Thank you so much for giving me my life back. I have to assure myself I can sleep every night if I just say you can do this just like the other nights I have been successful. I had never had a sleepless night until I got this insomnia. It is a terrible terrible thing.

I am waking up earlier than I want to, sometimes 5 or 6 oclock rather than 7. I am just happy to not toss and turn all night and if this is all I get that is fine. I go to be bed at 12. I wake up to go to the bathroom and this is probably the reason. All I know is my life is so much better. This does work! I tell myself I will live my life and sleep later if I cant sleep now. You have taken that terrible fear away, thank you.

[Greenleaf67]

Sounds like you have done a lot of work on yourself mentally and you can give yourself credit where credit is due! 👍

[sleep]

Thank you Greenleaf. I have learned your brain can do weird things. Since I have changed my attitude my sleep has been so much better, not perfect but almost.

I got on here in April and now it is almost August and I have not had a night I did not sleep. Sometimes I may wake up a couple of times but I have went right back to sleep after going to the bathroom. I am amazed myself and feel very fortunate to have found Martin Reed.

I just dont have that fear any more. If I dont sleep I dont sleep. I know I will eventually. I really felt at one time I would never sleep again like a lot of others thought they had lost the ability to sleep. 2 years of insomnia was awful, miserable! Something that I had never experienced before.

From the first night I got on here and listed to those 2 week emails I felt so much peace and hope that I could do this. I got rid of any pills and that feels good. I really cant explain it myself but it worked for me. Someone at my church this morning said I did not sleep at all last night and I thought I am so happy that is not me. I told her about this but people do what they want. I remember leaving church one Sunday and going to my gym and swimming to try and calm myself down so I could sleep, those were miserable days. Medicines made me dizzy, no appetite which I thought would be great but it wasn’t. It was really easy for me to get off my benadryl, it quit working, I was not going to keep taking more, that scared me. I am just like a different person now enjoying life and if I cant sleep I will eventually!

[Greenleaf67]

I am hoping to make that kind of progress too. I am in my fourth week of another cbt-i program and am also receiving Martin’s emails and I will say His input is so valuable and very helpful to me already. I am choosing to be on a sleep restriction through my other program (its an app and an online program called Insomnia Coach that I found on the website for the department of veteran’s affairs). My restriction is set for 5.5 hours but of course I don’t sleep that entire time always and am only getting between 4.5 and 5.5 hours of sleep at night. Its supposed to help reset my sleep drive and has helped as my sleep efficiency has gone way up. However, I am sleep deprived right now so it’s very hard. I am tired and sleepy unless I’m doing something active like being up and around or writing on my phone like this. I am hoping that this will be my last week of this much restriction to my sleep. I would love 6 hours!!!! I am learning so much about my attitudes towards sleep though and no matter whether I go back to getting more sleep or not, at least I have that and its helping. It’s better than having really poor sleep/wakefulness on a nightly basis. I am trying to accept that my sleep may never go back to the 8 to 10 hours I used to get when I was in my 30s and 40s. Hopefully I can accept whatever my body is willing to give me and not try to control it so much. Like I said, Martin’s wisdom and teaching has been really eye opening and I’m learning so much. I am just so tired of being tired. Thanks for your post and reading mine as well.

[sleep]

Martin says my situation is I am wired tired. He is exactly right. I dont feel tired at all when I dont sleep. I feel like I could paint 3 houses. I have so much energy it is crazy. Yes I feel very nervous, I guess nervous energy. Anyway it is a terrible feeling. I have not had it for months thank goodness. Once I relaxed and quit worrying about sleeping I could sleep. I said if I dont sleep that is ok because I will sleep eventually. It amazes me how relaxed I am by just changing my attitude. Yes, our response is what makes us crazy and have all these troubles. It is like saying you are not winning, I dont care if I sleep. It is taking our power back.

[Greenleaf67]

Yes I am working on refocusing to remind myself that I can’t control my sleep, only my actions and attitudes.its a tough shift in thinking but it feels right and helps a lot when I do it. Glad to hear you are doing better with your sleep.

[Kwamp]

Oh yeah I certainly relate to those thoughts that you will get a heart attack or wind up in the hospital because you can’t get any sleep.

[Pam1129]

Sleep… wow that sounds amazing!! I’m on my 5th week with Martins course and absolutely LOVE this kind of approach, I SOOO want to be where you are 😊that’s fantastic that this shift for you seemed to happen so quickly. I decided before I started the program to wean off my sleep meds ( which weren’t working anyway , but was too afraid to quit them) annnd things are pretty rough at the moment , that I sometimes feel that I’ll be the ‘one’ that this doesn’t work for. However it’s also the only program I’ve found that gives me such hope!! All the success stories of those ( and you ☺️) that are doing well! I sure wish I could ‘get it’ as quick as it seems you have…
I’m going on 20 + years of this so I understand it’s not at all a quick fix, you give me ( and I’m sure others) great hope!!!
Thanks again for sharing

[sleep]

I am still amazed myself I have been sleeping. Doing nothing is what worked. I say if I dont sleep I will eventually. I sleep from 12 until 6 or 7 so I am happy with that. It is hard to believe worrying and trying to fix sleep made me not sleep. I listen to Martin’s videos which helped also. I felt so alone with this problem but now I see I am not. Yes, it was quick and I am so happy about that. Once I found I could sleep then I would sleep. It almost seems so simple. I am very thankful for Martin Reed. Once in a while I wont sleep as well but this rarely happens and I say oh well you will make up for it tomorrow and I do.

[Pam1129]

Oh that’s sounds like heaven! I’m still struggling quite a bit , can’t seem to get a good nights sleep , not sure why my sleep drive hasn’t given me at least one good night in this last 5 weeks … for I’ve been very consistent on my sleep window (10-4)
I know it’s not about aiming or chasing sleep but sleep would sure be helpful haha!! I fall asleep so fast , I wake almost as fast , then the entire night, sometimes the AWAKE exercise makes me more anxious, so I choose a podcast or tv … I start falling asleep pretty quickly only to wake again within an hour.
I will continue to press on , as many on here have done , and
Know my time is coming

[Author]

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