[Rosa Santoro]

I’ve been having very little sleep in the past week. One bad sleepless night triggered all my anxieties, thoughts and feelings that I’ve struggled with in the past. I am constantly anxious and that’s all I think about, I fear being anxious, can’t seem to shake it off. How can I prepare for sleep feeling this way? I’m only in week 1 of the course and I know Martin talks about this in the later weeks. Any suggestions? I feel desperate.

[be-mindful]

Yes I have been there with severe intense sleep anxiety for sure. It is a slow process to habituate/accept and allow/welcome each thought. Becoming aware of the thinking mind and what it is doing (automatic negative sleep thoughts). The ACT approach is to begin to put a tiny bit of distance and awareness between you and your automatic thinking mind (called de-fusion instead of being totally fused with your thinking. It sounds impossible, to be with difficult thoughts and feelings. I am here to say it absolutely is possible even after my almost one decade of difficult struggle. Slow but sure, remember, this will pass and you will start to see that first tiny glimmer of hope. Once you see there is light at the end of this long frightening tunnel, then it is just patience with this proven, effective process. It can be months or even years it makes no difference as long as you are moving forward. Keep the faith and be fearless with challenging all the old assumptions.

[Rosa Santoro]

Thank you so much for your encouraging words. I know the process is to accept and welcome that intruding thought but it’s very difficult to do when your mind is racing and your heart is pumping like crazy. It’s comforting to know that there are others who have been through it.

[Author]

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