[mb]

i was wondering how do other people physically feel when they are lying awake at night?
besides the tossing and turning and racing thoughts, my problem is i cannot wind down and feel an energy in my body that i can only compare is like a car idling.
is this something that is common or is it just me experiencing this?
thanks

[melinda828]

You are not alone! I get this, too. Not every time, but the earlier I awake at night— after 1.5 -2 hrs. of falling asleep the first time– I feel really strange when I wake up. My whole body feels restless, heavy, uneasy, wound up. I have to get up and literally shake my legs. I think its because that deep sleep was for some reason suddenly interrupted. If I sleep 4 hrs and then wake up I don’t seem to get it. I used to think it was related to what I ate or drank but I’m not sure it is any more. Once I get through CBT-I I’m hoping its gone. I’m on about week 3. Its hard but I am not giving up! Hope this helps. (I don’t have an answer but just know that it probably is just part of the whole anxiety of interrupted sleep. Your body wants sleep but your mind is aroused?). Good Luck!
.

[mb]

thanks melinda
yes insomnia is a very mysterious condition and disease indeed
my doctor even doesnt know where the sleep center is in the brain
martins course may be worth a try , from what i gather cbt-i is a constructive way of dealing with insomnia

[AnnaB23]

You are not alone, mb! I often find that when I wake up in the middle of the night – which usually happens 1.5-2 hours after falling asleep as well as a couple other times after that – I feel wide awake, both mind and body alert, even if I haven’t slept much the past few days. Staying up later as part of sleep restriction and taking an extra long wind-down period before sleep (about 2 hours) with no screens and relaxing activities like reading/listening to a meditation or sleep story to the point I’m about to nod off, has helped my body and mind feel less alert when I DO wake up in the middle of the night now.

If I wake up in the middle of the night and feel particularly energized, getting out of bed to read/listen to something relaxing for a while can help me bring back the drowsy feeling again. It’s taken about a month of consistent effort with this, but for struggling with insomnia for years the time trade-off seems worth it so far.

[mb]

thank you anna
unfortunately i am alone in this.
ive had insomnia for years.

theres not much more i could sleep restrict if im only getting 2 hours sleep a night.
also i was thinking if you go to bed and cant sleep for the next few hours, isnt that the same as having a wind down period before bedtime?
sorry if i sound like a debbie downer

[melinda828]

In your situation, it sounds like you should invest in Martin’s coaching. I truly believe there is an answer. Yours is severe and I’m sure he can truly help you. It may take a while and you will have to totally trust the techniques but you should give it a try. I am considering this myself if doing it on my own doesn’t go as well as I hoped. (So far I am seeing some progress. The anxiety is gone for sure.). I’ll be praying for you 🙂

[Martin Reed]

You are not alone, MB!

If you are in bed awake at night and your mind is racing and being in bed is unpleasant, it’s usually a good idea to get out of bed and do something you find relaxing and enjoyable until you feel calm and relaxed. Then, return to bed and see what happens.

One of the best ways to reduce the amount of time you spend awake during the night is to make sure you are not allotting too much time for sleep. What time do you currently go to bed at night and when do you get out of bed to start your day in the morning? How many hours of sleep do you get on an average night?

—

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.

[mb]

hi martin
i have a life threatening disease and insomnia is just one of the symptoms i experience
i dont sleep at all , i havent slept since august 2018, unless i take sleeping tablets.
i was feeling hopeful that i could tackle one symptom at a time but i think the underlying problems i have run too deep to be solvable
i visit your website because it helps me understand what treatments are available and its good to read other peoples stories of overcoming the condition.
also its a rare topic on the internet so its a good to find somewhere where it is discussed.
thanks for the tip , i will try and implement as you say
maria

[Martin Reed]

It can be very easy to believe that you can’t sleep without sleeping pills — however, it can be helpful to recognize that no pill can generate sleep! The only thing that can generate sleep is your own biological sleep drive — and this is something that never goes away. With enough wakefulness, everyone will sleep.

Hypothetically speaking, do you believe that if you didn’t take sleeping pills you would remain awake indefinitely, or do you think that sleep might happen in the end?

—

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.

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