[merbear1]

Hi Everyone – it’s weird but I used to be one of those people who had trouble sleeping only when I wasn’t in my own bed. So, like on vacations, hotels, camping, other people’s houses etc. I even get 20, yep 20 Ambien a YEAR, for those occasions and that was all fine and good. I’ve been an awesome sleeper, in my own bed, for ever. But, I think it was this one little thing, so stupid that got into my head and caused my “I can’t sleep,” ” gonna ruin everything if I don’t” insomnia mind set. I was starting to use the HeadSpace App to learn meditation and was doing great, when I watched one of their “helpful little videos,” about how trying to meditate is like trying to fall asleep – the harder you try the less you succeed. They had this little guy struggling to sleep, with the hands of the clocks zooming in his eyes and him just tossing and turning…well, that was all it took to throw me into insomnia. Plus, a particularly crazy full moon that same week (I’ve always been affected by the energy of the full moon). I have tried everything; persuaded my Mother-in-law to give me a few Xanax (of course that worked, but I want a permanent solution!) herbs, tinctures, breathing, hot baths, progressive muscle, drinking enough to just pass out…etc etc etc….

I am an anxious person to start and have spent my entire life trying to get off the worry train that seems to run in my family. Now, of course, it’s at full speed and I’m worried not sleeping in literally killing me or shortening my life. Again, none of that thinking is helping me. Vicious cycle in full affect. I’m seeing my docs on Friday to get a blood test, to make sure my thyroid is ok, but I kinda think it will all come back normal. I want this therapy to work and am invested.  thanks for reading…

 

[Steve]

So are you taking the free course or the paid course to cure your insomnia? What do you mean by “I want this therapy to work and am invested”?

[merbear1]

Hi Steve – I mean, I am open and ready to try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a permanent solution to curing my insomnia. Right now, I am just taking the free course and will see where I am after that.

[Steve]

Okay. If you decide to do the Sleep Restriction, which is the main part of the course, feel free to stop into the thread for those of us doing sleep restriction for some moral support.

[Martin Reed]

First, let me reassure you that you can sleep — you know this because you have slept in the past so you can sleep again in the future. We never lose the ability to sleep.

It’s also worth being reminded that chronic insomnia has not been found to cause any health problem or shorten life expectancy.

Here’s a video on this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoX04HJihNI

Here’s a recent study that found no evidence of a relationship between mortality risk and insomnia:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1087079218300741

I’m glad that you’ve found CBT-I and am confident that you’ll find the techniques to be very helpful. They can be challenging to implement, but they work.

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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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