[anmareta]

@manfred, I get it. I struggle with that. I know that struggle. I do not know if this brings some comfort, but what I do sometimes, is visualize all the people that I share this holding me. So it’s not just me holding the fear, but the love of people. I just think of loving people in my life holding me. My mom, friends, the nice friendly cashier at the store, the dog I walk, my family, as I said I am spiritual, so the love of God holding me (which can be the love in the universe – I am a hundred percent sure that love is there because I have felt it – that strong force is holding me). Your support is a sign of that loving force, of everyone here, of this forum connecting us all, I really focus and visualize that love all around me. The beautiful energy and I describe it more and more specifically. With this loving force around me, it’s easier to feel the anxiety because am being held by something bigger much bigger than myself and I know that can sustain it. It’s not just me, is something much bigger than me which I have no control. So that infinite space is much stronger and can hold it. Then it becomes a bit less difficult to be with that uncomfortable feeling. I have reminders around the house of that love, pictures, little gifts from friends, movie tickets, little teddy bears, and I have them around my bedroom, so if my brain can’t hold the visualization, these little things around, remind me again of that love. Anxiety needs love, fear needs love. It feels less rejected and somehow at some point, it calms down. I think the baby (anxiety) woke up, and needs some attention. That analogy has helped me.

[Manfred]

Great post, thanks a lot!

[anmareta]

🙂 I also try to do the visualisation exercises during the day. I find it’s easier to practice in the day than in the evening. For some time I just did them in the day and then once got the hang of it, apply it in the evening.
Also taking small steps, one day at a time.

[Manfred]

@anmareta What kind of visualtion exercises do u do? Do you a link? Thanks a lot.

[anmareta]

There are so many, here is one for example, google

Meditation: The RAIN of Self-Compassion (10:42 min) Tara Brach

That meditation was how I started.
She has really good meditations in her website and books.
Try it and play around with them. There are other authors, but this one helped me to start, maybe it helps you. 🙂

[Manfred]

Thank you!

[Jaran]

Thank you @anmareta for the RAIN suggestion. Also, the idea of practicing visualizations during the day is excellent. Something that has not been helpful for me is to focus on insomnia, do my insomnia research, and try new things to combat insomnia at night. Even if I know not to try new things with the goal of “making” me sleep, of course in the back of my mind it’s still there. Learning new things during the day that are simply nice for me in terms of relaxation and overall health, then doing those things in the evenings seems like a better way to go.

On a different note, under the “Resources” on the top menu of this page, Martin has some podcasts. I’ve listened to two, each close to an hour long. They were both interviews with clients who’ve successfully been through the program. Of course I started with the ones that seemed like I would most closely relate to, and both were really good. If you’ve not watched or listened to them, they are well done and may be worth a try.

[Manfred]

@Jaran – which podcasts do u mean? Will re-listen them.

[Jaran]

Hi @Manfred. If you pull down the “Resources” menu at the top of this page, the first option is Insomnia Coach Podcasts. There are 3 pages of podcasts to choose from, each with a title and short description. I’ve only listened to two (Michelle and Jennifer). Both resonated with me personally, and there are plenty of others to choose from.

[Author]

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