[Cas80]

I seem to find myself on the days after a great sleep with the fear that the insomnia will return (the past 3 weeks I’ve had a bout of insomnia) with days un between where it’s improved with great nights sleep thanks to Martin’s tips. However instead of being relieved and happy I find my mind wandering to fear that it will return (because it was quite a traumatic experience). What thinking can I use to just it behind me and move on.

[hiker]

Hi Cas80, I can relate to what you are saying, and I’ll bet a lot of people can.

When the type of fear you describe—I slept great last night, but what about tonight…and the night after that?!—when I find that sort of washing over me, sometimes I freak out a bit, but more and more I just realize that, ‘You know what? I might not sleep well tonight, I hope I do, but if I don’t, I can deal with it.’

I also try to step back and watch my mind, usually via slowing down, listening to background sounds, what I am touching, etc. in other words, whatever it takes to be right here in the present moment. Then I can see the thoughts drifting through. There is a big difference between:

1. “I might not sleep well tonight, the insomnia could come back, I can’t handle this;”
and
2. “I’m having the thought that I might not sleep well tonight, I’m having the thought that the insomnia could back, I’m having the thought that I can’t handle this.”

That might sound silly or simplistic if you skim over it, but if you can slow down, I think you will find it is not.

I dealt with insomnia off and on for many years. I am not saying you will; I had huge emotional trauma in childhood. The reason I bring it up is that I sort of chugged through the many days when I was tired. I would acknowledge it, okay, I’m tired, and just do the best I could. Just trying to ease up on myself a bit on those days. Knowing that actually I cannot totally control ovewhether I sleep well tonight.

Take care, you are not alone in this.

[Author]

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