[roseabel]

Hello everyone 🙂

I am a student at university and have been struggling with insomnia for three years. My insomnia is linked to my generalised anxiety disorder, and it mainly comes on when anxious. I get racing heart, and as soon as that happens, I find it so hard to stop insomnia taking over.

My biggest sleep challenge is blocking thoughts like ‘it’s happening… you aren’t going to sleep’ and slowing down my heart rate.

I do a 10 min wind-down yoga with candles and read before bed every night – this has helped me the most.

I joined this group because I just want to hear other people going through the same thing and have some support and advice – especially the day after a bad night when I feel very hopeless!

[Deb]

Try reading Guy Meadow’s book, The Sleep Book. His method at treating insomnia focuses on reducing anxiety about sleeping. Trying to block out thoughts can sometimes backfire and just make them come back with an even greater vengeance. He gives great advice on dealing more effectively with fears and anxiety. This will also help with your anxiety and hopelessness the day after a bad night.

[Martin Reed]

Welcome to the forum, and I’m sorry to hear about your difficulties with sleep and anxiety over the past few years.

It’s important not to try blocking negative or worrying thoughts — because as soon as you try to do this, you actually make them more likely and more powerful.

That’s because as soon as we try to tell ourselves not to think something, we begin to self-monitor our thoughts. In effect, we repeatedly check to see if we are thinking about the very thing we don’t want to be thinking about! This is not only mentally tiring, but it also keeps us alert and it makes it harder to sleep.

You may find it easier to simply accept these thoughts and worries for what they are — thoughts and worries. Thoughts and worries can’t hurt us. As long as we recognize them and accept we are going to experience them, they will hold far less power and they will pass from your mind much faster.

I hope this helps!

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