[maywesleepwell]

Thank you, there is something helpful there indeed.

In my view, the tracking can help identify patterns like when the average sleep duration diverges from what is usual so that I can respond appropriately, and also to get insights into connections between moods and sleep.

I guess a workable approach for a difficult night is applying what you taught in the course – AWAKE exercise, self-compassion, mindfulness and just focusing on allowing rest and sleep to happing instead of trying to make sleep happen – in addition to certain on-demand medicine and relaxation techniques when the cause for sleep disruptions is an amygdala which is operating abnormally.
The main difference is that difficult nights have the potential to bring the stress and mood system as well as the circadian rhythm out of balance (so the state of arousal can spiral out of control, and a tipping over toward mania might even decrease sleep drive after less sleep; in other words, the sleep does not as easily rebalance itself once it is out of balance).
As a consequence, there needs to be a workable response that includes bringing that system back into balance but at the same time avoids any struggling or forcing – which can be a fine line. As insomnia or difficult nights can have dramatic consequences it is a bit like keeping cool while the house is on fire and taking an appropriate response to extinguish it.

Even though I have some experience now and identified what works this is an ongoing responsibility and practicing those skills will be of value to me. The earlier I can identify when things might move away from being in balance the easier it is to bring things back into balance.
And when stressful times are ahead, sleep needs special protection, including methods like relaxation, a buffer zone, regulated light exposure, supplements, or even medicine. Not to make sleep happen, but as tools to create better conditions for sleep and help the amygdala to function normally and healthily.
The challenge here, and this is where the course was very illuminating for me, is to use those tools with the right mindset, taking away the pressure and the struggle as well as possible.

[maywesleepwell]

That makes a lot of sense, thank you!

[maywesleepwell]

I guess I sometimes resist it which doesn’t really help.
What helps is letting go and opening to it, also the AWARE practice can help I think.

Sometimes however, this doesn’t help when I feel too tense or my nervous system is very aroused, I guess then I really need to get up and do sth relaxing.

I wonder what to do about this underlying fear of sleeping badly. What if my life becomes more stressful again or things are at stake and it really does matter that I sleep well – how can I stay at ease in those moments? I am concerned that I might get afraid again and insomnia might return and screw things up for me again.

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