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I wonder if this might be connected to hypnic jerks — something that can definitely make things difficult and yet tends not to respond well to our understandable efforts to fight or avoid them.
Have you discussed this with your doctor? If you’re given a clean bill of health, these symptoms might be connected to a heightened level of arousal.
You might find this YouTube video (and all the comments that come with it) helpful: Why you jerk yourself awake every time you try to fall asleep (and what to do about it).
—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.
Can you describe that brain noise in a bit more detail for us, Ernie? And, how are you currently responding to the appearance of that brain noise? How helpful is that response proving to be?
—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.
If you don’t think that driving would be safe, it’s important not to drive.
People with chronic insomnia rarely fall asleep without warning during the day — they’re typically “tired but wired” during the day rather than excessively sleepy. That’s why we don’t usually hear of people with chronic insomnia falling asleep behind the wheel during the day.
As you mentioned, it’s definitely harder to do things that matter when we are dealing with insomnia. What’s the alternative? The only possible alternative is to avoid doing things that matter, right?
In your experience, does that usually make things better? Do you feel as though that’s a workable approach? Only you know the answer to that since you are the expert on you!
We don’t need to change our thoughts (I am not sure that’s even possible) but sometimes changing our actions (something we can always control) is a more useful strategy!
I hope there’s something useful here.
—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.
Hello Pomac! If your sleep quality was better, what would you be doing differently? What are you unable to do now that you would be doing if you were getting the type of sleep you’d like to be getting?
—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.
Checking whether or not you’re asleep is something you can’t really control — if your mind decides to monitor, it’s going to monitor. Trying to get it to stop might end up creating a struggle and make things more difficult!
Feeling tired is definitely a difficult part of insomnia and it’s another one of those things you can’t, unfortunately, directly control.
You can only control your actions — so when difficult thoughts and feelings show up you have a choice on how to respond.
You can respond in a way that might end up making things more difficult, create more struggle, and move you away from the life you want to live. For example, by trying to fight or avoid wakefulness and certain thoughts and feelings, and canceling plans.
Or, you can respond in a way that might help you practice moving away from struggle and toward doing things that help you live the life you want to live. For example, by acknowledging and making space for all this difficult stuff to exist and refocusing your attention toward doing things that matter and the world around you that exists, even in the presence of all this difficulty.
The first option is usually the easiest (and the least helpful) while the second option often requires a lot more commitment and practice (and is usually more workable).
Finally, it might be worth emphasizing that sleep restriction can’t make sleep happen and that’s not its intention. The goal is really to help you move away from chasing after sleep by doing things like going to bed before you’re sleepy enough for sleep, staying in bed later in an effort to catch up on sleep, or napping during the day — all these efforts create a struggle which can make things more difficult and can end up perpetuating sleep disruption.
I hope there’s something useful here!
—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.
Thanks for sharing! Remember that the goal with the AWAKE exercise isn’t to make you relax (that’s a feeling that cannot be made to happen and trying to do so might create some struggle). The goal is to practice moving away from struggling with all this difficult stuff since it’s the struggle that tends to make things even more difficult.
As you mentioned, thoughts will almost certainly reappear — nothing you can do can delete thoughts from your brain (another reason why trying to get rid of them is a futile battle!).
When they come back, you have another opportunity to practice acknowledging them and allowing them to come and go as they choose. Observing them rather than going to war with them. Building a new skill that will help you become better at moving away from struggle.
As your mind suggested, you might find sleep difficult when you travel to see family this weekend (but you might not).
And yet, that’s totally out of your control.
What’s within your control is the action of traveling to see family — doing something that’s aligned with your values and that will keep you moving toward the kind of life you want to live, independently of sleep and regardless of the thoughts, feelings, and stories your mind might be coming up with as it does its job of looking out for you.
—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.
Isn’t it amazing what the mind can come up with as it does its job of looking out for us?!
Thank you for sharing the thoughts you identified as you practiced the NOW exercise — I am sure many people will find the thoughts you shared very familiar! In particular the “no progress” story is very common and can so easily derail us — if we are practicing, we are making progress, regardless of what our minds might try to tell us!
How have you been getting on with opening up to the presence of those thoughts and refocusing your attention on where you are and what you are doing when they show up?
—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.
Thanks for sharing! Yes, as a human being you’ll experience anxiety about all different things — including sleep! As you know, anxiety doesn’t feel good and so many of us respond by trying to fight or avoid it, and that’s what gets us tangled up in a struggle.
It sounds as though you learned a lot over the past year and that puts you in a stronger position, moving forward.
It takes time, practice, and commitment to build skill in moving away from trying to control what cannot be controlled and then getting jerked around by the ongoing struggle.
It sure sounds as though you are back and engaged in a more workable way of responding to all this difficult stuff!
—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.
Hello and welcome! Many people find it hard to get out of bed in the morning — so you aren’t alone! And, many of us are slow and unproductive in the morning — myself included (although it sounds as though you’re getting chores done which is definitely something)!
You might find it helpful to ask yourself whether staying in bed from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM helps you live the kind of life you want to live. If it does, then it’s probably not a problem. If it doesn’t help you live the kind of life you want to live, perhaps a change might be useful?
I wonder if there are any activities you might be able to plan for yourself in the mornings that are aligned with your values and interests that might help you make the mornings more interesting/productive, if that’s something that’s important to you?
—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.
If anyone would like to connect privately with other members, please contact me and give me permission to privately share your email address and I will happily do so!
—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.
It sounds like you have one of those very enthusiastic and eager minds that is working overtime trying to look out for you and protect you!
The fear you described, especially in connection to your awful and tragic experience, is understandable and it makes complete sense why your mind would generate such difficult thoughts and feelings. After all, its main job is to look out for you, right?
When your mind starts running like a film with special effects, how are you currently responding and how helpful/workable are you finding that response?
—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.
Glad you found it — I am guessing that you explored the Week 2 forum before you got to that section of this week’s course content; I admire your curiosity!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the AWAKE exercise once you’ve got some practice in, if you’re willing to share!
—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.
Thank you so much for sharing — it sounds as though you are actively exploring a new approach and are doing so with a curious and open mind!
—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.
Hello Leslie!
It sounds as though you’ve found from experience that the medication merry-go-round might not be a workable approach for you — and you’ve already taken a big step toward a different approach by moving away from the mirtazapine after five years!
If you recognize the struggle with insomnia and all the difficult thoughts and feelings that can come with it as a bit part of the problem, I think you are very likely to find the course helpful!
—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.
Welcome aboard! If you have any questions or just feel as though you might need a bit of support or extra guidance at any point, the client forum is always available to you. You are not alone!
—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.
