[Claudia22]

-Hello, I have 25 years old and I’m desperate. I have chronic insomnia (started 2 months ago when I developed health anxiety due to being diagnosed with GERD and esophagitis). At first I had problems falling asleep, I was afraid of not being able to sleep, but now that problem is gone, I usually fall asleep easy, but I wake up multiple times during the night. I get around 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep (that s the case in the last 2 weeks) and I sometimes cannot fall back asleep at all. When I wake up I don’t feel fresh, or very awake, I’m still tired but I begin to think all sorts of things and I wake my mind up. Last night I got out of the bed at 4 a.m.(I fell easily asleep at 10:30 a.m. and I woke up with my heart racing, even though I had a normal-ish dream), I tried to read a book in another room but I was very disappointed and angry at myself. I spent 2 hours in another bedroom, filled with anger, and at around 6:30 I fell asleep (I had a lucid dream and a sleep paralysis experience….). I want to implement CBT-I, but sometimes I cannot control my emotions at night…I always think that no one and nothing will ever help me…Help

[hiker]

Hi Claudia22, I am sorry you are going through this. You write that you “always think that no one and nothing will ever help me.” That is not true, but millions of us can relate: when you are hammered from lack of sleep, powerful (but false) thoughts can rage through your head.

It sounds like you are dealing with some difficult physical health problems. That is certainly the start of situational insomnia–an actual event or condition that is tough to deal with. But it’s the emotions that take and run with it.

“Sometimes I cannot control my emotions at night”…… a few things are certain, and one is that you can forget about controlling your emotions. Take the anger you describe. Sure, you don’t want to act out on anger via eg. a road rage incident, but as for preventing yourself from being angry, forget it. I think you have a better shot at trying to step back and watch the anger and other emotions. I know, easier said than done, when you are swirling in them and you’re exhausted. But it’s the way to let your emotions be, whatever they are, so your body doesn’t have to carry them.

Martin’s course, and podcasts/emails address this more fully. I hope you will stay with this site and come to realize that you are not alone in this. Even when it feels that way.

[baggypepperowl]

I’m so sorry to hear about your struggle with insomnia. It sounds like you’re dealing with a lot and it’s understandable that it’s causing a lot of distress. I would suggest that you talk to a health professional to get the help you need. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an effective treatment for chronic insomnia, and a professional can help you develop strategies to manage your emotions and help you relax before bed. Additionally, they may be able to provide guidance on any medical conditions that could be affecting your sleep and provide other tools to help you sleep better. I hope this helps and wishing you all the best.

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