[judi]

Hello again,

I stumbled across a yt channel by Alina, a former client of Daniel Erichsen.

What she says about recovering insomnia is reasonable but terrifying to me at the same time.

“The moment we ask ourselves: how do I stop problem-solving, we still problem-solve.”

She talks about how surrendering to the fact that “there’s nothing more you can do” and to arrive at the state of not caring anymore eventually led to sleep.

My question would be:
Don’t insomniacs usually arrive at this point quite early? Why then decade-long insomnia still exists? Is there a difference between surrendering and giving up?

[kho4874]

Hi Judi
I think what Alina is trying to say is that you can not control sleep and as long as you are trying to do that you will continue to struggle. To accept that fact is not the same as giving up all together, but to free yourself from unhelpful sleep efforts and preoccupation about sleep, which keep insomnia going because we give insomnia so much attention. Humans are problem solvers and it is hard to let go. I am working with this myself, to give insomnia less space in my life and to care less. It is not easy when sleep is on your top wishing list for Christmas. I wish you the best!

[SueE]

Hi Judi

Thanks so much for posting this. It’s nice to know that all those nights lying awake are just ‘speedbumps’ in my recovery, and rather than being a waste of time are actually an essential part of my journey to eventually being free from insomnia for good. I like the way she explains that you have to go through these ups and downs so that your brain gives up trying to control sleep, as it runs out of ideas!

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR OWN JOURNEY!

[Author]

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