[ktMD]

Candy, you are not alone! I have made progress but realized I have a major issue with letting go of resistance. Not just regarding sleep but life in general. As someone who really wants to control things, it has been difficult to accept/acknowledge what is. I have also been reading “The Power of Now” which has helped.
I think also realizing your expectations, ie, if you have only had insomnia a short time, do you expect you will “get better” in a short time. That is putting a lot of pressure on yourself. I don’t know if that is your situation or not.
Anyway, you are definitely not alone!

[ktMD]

I don’t see it as being “petty.” It is the struggle that we all have shared.

[ktMD]

I guess I’m still seeing it as a problem. Getting rid of that last bit of resistance is difficult for me. How do I do that?

[ktMD]

Am I the only one having this resistance? How do I deal with the resistance? I don’t feel like it’s serving me in any way.

[ktMD]

Martin, thank you for your response. I do have resistance. It feels like work to allow these negative thoughts/feeling. But I know that struggling against them definitely does not work.

[ktMD]

I have done 6 weeks so far and still struggle with this. I try the AWAKE during the night and NOW exercises during the day. I still wake up around 2-3 am. My anxiety has not improved. I am still working on acknowledging and allowing them. Is anyone else this far along in the course still struggling with this?

[ktMD]

Pam1129, Thank you for your response. It’s good to know I’m not alone, as Martin said. I feel like I “should” be further along at this point. I also feel like I “should” be able to relax my body with a body scan because often that’s what the instructions say to do. I am aware that I hold a lot of tension in my body during the day, so that’s a good first step. Learning to acknowledge and allow these things will take a while for me.

[ktMD]

Wow, hiker. You comment ” I didn’t have to buy into it. Instead, I could just note and observe it” was right on. Although intellectually I heard that, it didn’t sink in for a while.

I don’t have to buy into thoughts. I always thought that accepting thoughts meant buying into them. Not true!

This is very helpful. I love your metaphor of the branches falling into the river too.

Thanks,
Kathy

[ktMD]

Chee2308, I think you’re on to something. Letting go and accepting wakefulness is the hardest part. For a while I have awakened at 3am every night. I was resistant to this and developed hyperarousal. Last night I awakened at 4:30 am. I tried to do the AWAKE exercise but just decided to get up. It is still challenging to acknowledge and allow these thoughts/feelings!

[ktMD]

ChefDevo1776, kudos to you for your persistent practicing of the NOW exercise. It is difficult to sit with difficult thoughts/emotions. I’m trying to get better at it. It is true that the thoughts/emotions are worse than the reality most times. It’s like my brain is always is “catastrophizing” mode, thinking of the worst outcome.

[ktMD]

I decreased my sleep window by 2 hours at night. It is very hard for me to stay awake at night since I have been getting into bed around 7-7:30 pm. But I still wake up around 2am. I’m not sure if this means I should decrease my sleep window more or if it is hyperarousal. I try to use AWAKE when this happens.

[ktMD]

Hang in there Pam1129! Just practice the tools Martin is giving us and have confidence that your body knows how to sleep. It is good to know we are not alone.

[ktMD]

Thank you for the words of wisdom, Martin. The AWAKE and NOW exercises can be used for any anxiety. So the tools we are learning can help with so many things besides insomnia.
Pam1129, I feel your pain. I did alright last night but the night before that I got zero sleep. What pleasant activities do you use during wakefulness?
Kathy

[ktMD]

Paull, sorry about your restless night. I have been practicing the NOW exercise several times today. I try to do the AWAKE exercise at night and do it at least twice a night. Trying to keep practicing hoping I will get better at it. I also don’t want to forget it when the course is over, which I know is anxiety about the future!
I printed out the exercises and review them before bed. Maybe that will help you?

[ktMD]

I practice AWAKE while at work when my stress is high. It’s challenging when it’s busy and I have more difficulty with the Allow part. What do you use for the Allow part of the exercise?

[Author]

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