[Cassie]

Hi everyone, I’m new to this forum and feel like I need support to figure out my sleep. I’ve had trouble sleeping for 30 years and it started when my first child was born. I also suffer from migraine and neck issues so recently pain wakes me and then I have no hope of getting back to sleep. My neurologist just started me on a low dose of Lexapro (5mg) and I am experiencing a lot of sleepiness during the day and not sure if it is helping or hurting me. Instead of body fatigue I am feeling brain fatigue and two nights ago I did sleep 6 hours with waking only once. This was encouraging but last night I didn’t sleep at all. I know I am rambling but I’m hoping I can get thoughts and suggestions from some of you on how to work through this cloud. I’m having a hard time engaging in life because I just feel “sick.”?

[Martin Reed]

Welcome to the forum, Cassie! Have you tried implementing any CBT-I techniques to help address any habits that might be perpetuating your sleep disruption?

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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.

[Cassie]

I have been listening to your podcasts Martin and found them to be so encouraging and quickly learned that I have been doing everything that someone with insomnia should NOT do. So I have been doing the sleep restriction as best I can because I had been going to bed at 8 PM. I was able to stay awake until 9:30 and then 10 PM. After only 7 days I am starting to feel change. I have had two nights of falling asleep quickly but waking 2 1/2 hours later and last night I slept 6 hours with no waking. I was amazed! But I do have to work on staying up later so that my sleep isn’t done at 3 AM.
The hard part for me is that i go through days of neck and head pain and that’s what wakes me most nights which is what started my insomnia. So I know that will be on ongoing issue for me but I have had a HUGE attitude change and am accepting that some nights might be a struggle but I don’t have to dread going to bed and that feeling sleepy is everything and that fatigue is not sleepy.
I also have RLS and major hypnotic jerks and hyperarousal during the day. It was impossible to nap during the day. Someone on your podcast was talking about that and it gave me great comfort that I wasn’t the only one. I haven’t had them the last two nights so I’m hoping that is a good sign.
I should mention that I was taking 5 mg of Lexapro for two weeks but it made me so fatigued that I felt it made no sense to continue so my neurologist agreed that CBT-I was better for me and encouraged me which made me feel great to finally have a doctor that didn’t insist that meds were the only answer.
Sorry for the long post?I’m just so encouraged and excited to have a plan!
Thank you!!!!!

[Martin Reed]

Wow, it sounds as though you are making great progress! It’s often easier to recognize that we might have been doing things that weren’t helpful once we have the knowledge, right? Before we have that knowledge, though, it’s totally understandable why we were doing those things!

What’s most important is making changes to behaviors and approaches that you know from experience haven’t been helpful or workable!

I am sorry to hear about the neck and head pain. If only there was a universal solution to getting rid of pain. Now, that would be a trillion dollar solution — just as a universal solution to difficult thoughts and feelings would be!

Unfortunately, there’s no “off switch” for the brain. There are some things we just can’t control — and, as you have been exploring, if we can start coming to terms with that, if we can be kind to ourselves when we are struggling, if we can start acknowledging the difficult thoughts and feelings we experience and then redirect our attention onto what we do have control over, we might be able to keep moving toward the life we want to live and the person we want to be, even in the presence of that pain and difficult stuff.

Thank you for sharing you are feeling encouraged and excited to have a plan!

You definitely aren’t alone!

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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.

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