[Kmm]

I feel discouraged by knowing that insomniacs have a few nights a week when they sleep fairly well. I have had extreme trouble sleeping everyday for a little over a month now. This last week, 2 hours or none. It’s very discouraging. I have tried not to think about it and continue with my life but nothing has changed. I’m in the process of finishing my master’s thesis and am on a rough patch in my romantic relationship. I know there are stressors in my life, but I didn’t know all this was bothering me this much. The mild insomnia started a while ago but it got severe once a took a medication called buspar. That gave me completely sleepless nights and since then I have had many. I no longer take the medication. Only took it for 4 days.

I started zoloft a week ago and I’ve been on heart medication for a month due to anxiety heart palpitations. I’m a wreck and am trying really hard to have a positive attitude but the completely sleepless nights make me lose all hope. If only I could get 4 hours every night …

[hiker]

Hi Kmm, first, it’s a good idea to check through this site. Please do not think that because no one has responded to your specific post, that no one cares. Rather, you can see there are a lot of posts to reply to. Any given night, millions of people are not sleeping well. So you’re not alone by a long shot.

It sounds like you have identified some reasons for not sleeping well. Working on a master’s thesis is enough to stress anybody out. Add to that relationship issues. Then meds.

Re the meds, pharmacist are the best source for info on side effects. Many drugs contribute to insomnia, so sometimes you have to balance the benefit of the drug given such an unpleasant side effect. Also know that there is no drug which will guarantee good, long term sleep. If there were, you would see people lined up for blocks.

I think the biggest plus of this site is Martin’s emphasis on how thoughts enter the picture. The thesis, or relationship trouble, even the insomnia itself, doesn’t automatically lead to the loss of hope you describe. The culprit is the recurring thought about what insomnia means–rather, what you think it means. I know when I would be hammered from lack of sleep, my mind would drift to despair, along the lines of “this is hopeless,” “I wish I was dead,” “maybe I should kill myself,” etc. Powerful thoughts that seem true because they’re so powerful.

But they are not true. Instead, they are just thoughts drifting through your head, and they are easy to latch onto and believe when you’re too tired to think straight. With considerable practice, I was able to recognize the enormous difference between:

1. It’s hopeless, I should just die; and
2. I’m having the thought that it’s hopeless, I should just die.

Prefacing with “I’m having the thought that…” can provide some distance, so you can observe your thoughts rather than automatically buy into them.

Like I said, you are not alone. Stay with us.

[Glen]

Hi kmm I have just joined this forum. I have had sleep insomnia for nearly a month along side tinnitus. I too was given sertraline (zoloft ) but since I started that, that’s when I stopped sleeping the Dr. Then gave me sleeping tablets and now I don’t sleep without the sleeping tablet and if I do take them I sleep for max 3-4 hours. I have stopped taking the zoloft now, for 4 days as I feel they were not helping.
All I can suggest, is that we don’t panic when we go to bed. We got to just make thought come and go and stop struggling with them. Use Martin’s methods of sleep. I am on day 7 of it. I am still not sleeping but I am hoping that my body Clock is resetting, so in the future I will. I am also trying to come off the sleeping tablets. All the best to you. We can do it. 😎

[baggypepperowl]

I understand how discouraging it can be to see that some insomniacs have a few nights a week when they sleep fairly well when you have been having extreme trouble sleeping for a month. It is understandable that you are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted with all the stressors in your life and the lack of sleep. I want to encourage you to keep reaching out for help, and to focus on small steps that you can take to help yourself in the short-term, such as creating a calming bedtime routine, exercising regularly, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol in the evening. It is also important to talk to your doctor about your sleep issues, as they can help you find more long-term solutions. They may be able to suggest other medications or therapies that may help you find the sleep that you need. Additionally, it may be beneficial to speak with a therapist or counselor to help you manage any underlying issues that may be causing stress or anxiety and impacting your sleep. Take care of yourself and be kind to yourself. I hope you are able to find some peace and rest soon.

[Martin Reed]

What you are going through is hard, Kmm. As you have seen from all the supportive replies you have received, you are not alone!

As you have experienced, we can’t really delete thoughts from our mind — at least, not permanently anyway. They always come back, right?

So, with that in mind, one way of reducing the struggle might involve practicing moving away from trying to fight or avoid what’s going on in your mind. To acknowledge what your brain is saying. To make space for those thoughts and feelings to come and go as they choose, and to be kind to yourself in return.

I hope there’s something useful here.

—

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.

[Kmm]

Thank you all for your kind words. I’ve been making some progress (and having setbacks). I have felt better since I learned that insomnia is a phobia, nothing more (and nothing less). I have hope that if I continue to learn about CBT-I, I will be able to be one of those people who get to talk about their success in overcoming insomnia.

If anyone would like to chat (it would be nice to get to know people who truly understand insomnia), you can email me …

• This reply was modified 1 years, 9 months ago by Martin Reed.
• This reply was modified 1 years, 9 months ago by Martin Reed. Reason: Email address removed

[Martin Reed]

Thanks for sharing that you’ve been making progress and that you’re experiencing some typical setbacks on your journey, Kmm!

I removed your email address from your post so it doesn’t get picked up by spam bots.

If anyone wants to connect with you, they can contact me and I can make the connection “behind the scenes”!

—

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.

[Author]

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