[Line]

Hi everybody!

I want to share my experience with going through CBTi. I’ve had insomnia for over a year, it happened after reading a book about the importance of sleep. I started focusing on getting 8-9 hours. I would normally sleep between 5-7.30 “I used a Fitbit back then”. Not getting enough sleep would make my anxiety rise and I had no chance falling asleep. I would go 48 hours with no sleep. I never took any sleeping medication because of the side effects, but I would get all kinds of allergy pills that would make me «hungover» the next day. Then I went to see a psychiatrist, but she tried to solve this by talking about my childhood and that wasn’t very helpful.
I signed up to Martins course before this summer. Already in the first week I noticed an improvement so I was encouraged to keep going. Now for the last 4 weeks I have had good sleep, I actually sleep better now than before I had insomnia since I don’t wake up for more than once every night, and if I do it’s only for a few minutes. I can still have a bad nights, but I know that’s normal, and I don’t freak out about it anymore 🙂
If you stick to CBTi it will work, and it’s very helpful to work with someone like Martin who knows everything about it! Good luck 🙂

Cheers from Norway

[Martin Reed]

Hello Line and thanks for sharing your story!

The really big insight in your post that I think will help a lot of people is your recognition that all your sleep problems began when you started to worry about sleep and put effort into sleep.

As you now know, as soon as we worry about sleep or put any effort into sleep, we immediately make sleep more difficult — and this can generate more worry and more effort!

As you pointed out, you still experience a bad night every now and again. The difference now, though, is that you recognize that a bad night is a normal part of life and you don’t worry about it. As a result, you don’t perpetuate that sleep disruption and your sleep is able to get right back on track all by itself!

The only thing I would add is that although I share evidence-based cognitive and behavioral techniques with clients, I am not a therapist so I don’t “do” CBT-I. For that, someone will need to see a licensed therapist. I simply provide the information and support clients with any behavioral changes they decide to implement!

Thanks again for sharing your story, Line — all the improvements you are enjoying are down to your own efforts and your own natural ability to sleep!

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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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