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Thank you so much for the inspirational message. Yes, I am spiritual.
I have already today incorporated what you said for the NOW lesson. Tonight, I plan on using your AWAKE technic. I pray it helps.I’ve had a light insomnia problem since I retired from law enforcement, as well as tapering off Benzo’s that I was prescribed many years ago for sleep.
When I started this program, I guess I was kind of naive how intense it is.
Over the last few weeks, I realized I have to make a better effort in trying to understand the program.
Having said all this, I focused in on both of these 2 lessons. I admit I struggle absorbing what I read as well as what Martin is saying. The advice you give for the 2 lessons, AWAKE and NOW, I am going to try what you told me, which I greatly appreciate!!!
My concern now is in a month I start my yards jobs as well as umpiring baseball. In June my grandson is getting married.
My hope is within the next month I can show some improvement. This in itself is stressful. Along with this current course running out in a month.
So last night I went to bed at 10:15 pm. I was sleepy and in fact fell asleep for about 5 minutes. I laid there for a bit, a tad disappointed on waking up. Now here’s where I got stuck. I said to myself “I would like to rest” and left it at that. Nothing, I now moved to the other end of the bed, nothing, I then read a few of Martin’s lessons on my phone, including the AWAKE 3 times. I struggled absorbing the information, now becoming frustrated. I then came down stair, turned on TV (My wife’s a sleep in the master bedroom) watched for about half hour, still awake. Went back in the bed watched more of Martins lessons, fell asleep watching one for again 5 minutes. Woke up wide awake. This was repeated till I came down at 5:00 am. Latterly no sleep. I hope and pray what works for you will help me. Thank you very much for getting back to me!! ,I agree with you. When I go to bed, I generally fall asleep for 5 minutes or so. This is when my brain takes off. I don’t know if I should try to rest, or just lay there wake. Because the AWAKE exercise is so long, (I’ve reviewed it numerous times) I struggle going through the letters. I try real hard to allow my thoughts to be present as I go through the lesson. At the end, I’m awake, now either reading on my phone, or trying to watch TV. This by the way is about 2 hours well into my sleep window. Also I’m trying to figure out where to incorporate the Now exercise. All said, I’m really struggling.
Tim,
When I started the program, I had difficult time absorbing the information on the videos. I heard it, but could not mentally put it into play, if that makes sense.
There were parts that I could complete, the three good things, what a sleep window consisted of what sleep pressure is. But when it came to thoughts & feelings, being able to imagine the sky and floating down the river, as well as many other things, I just can’t absorb.Example: last night I go to bed at 10:30. Toss & turn, watch the AWAKE exercise, and attempt to tell myself everything Martin said. At the end, couldn’t go to sleep so I read off my phone for a hour, still no sleep, got up watch TV for about an hour, went back to bed, toss & turned, went to the opposite end of the bed, still no sleep. At the end it was 4:30 am, came downstairs. So much for a sleep window.
I have not slept in the last three days, and tomorrow I got a 9:00 am doctor appointment.
So, my plan is to go to bed tonight, if sleep doesn’t happen (I have sleep pressure) I will go through the AWAKE exercise and repeat everything above. I should point out my wife sleeps well in the master bedroom. –Martin, where I’m at if I go to bed, say at 12:00am, am struggling with nighttime wakefulness, I might not get to sleep till maybe 3:00am. Having to get out at 6:00 am, I’m getting 3 hours.
This is exactly how I feel. I can go to bed, no negative thoughts or feelings. My sleep pressure is built up, I climb into bed, trying to think of the AWAK exercise, try to think of 3 good things, tell myself I’m a good person. Lay down, saying I’m exhausted, which I am. No sleep. I try, as difficult as it is not to get upset. The only way I can fall asleep is turning on one of Martin’s podcast. At the end of the podcast I wake up, again unable to fall asleep! This is a viscous cycle!
Thanks Tim, I’m not going to give up, but I will tell you it’s very difficult. I know Martin is doing his best trying, using examples, but I struggle trying to absorb the information.
My concern is as spring approaches, where I become active, I’m concerned I won’t sleep and have energy. I know it sounds dumb.I’m trying to identify my values. I enjoy watching sports, I enjoy working in yards. I enjoy going to the gym. I rnjoy being with my 2 daughters, and grandkids. Would these be considered values?
Martin,
When I practice the AWAKE exercise, what I do is I have each letter on my phone. I go through each one as you explained it. I don’t feel any outside distractions. My concentration is the surroundings in the room, which aren’t negative.
What I do is after completing the exercise. I say the word “insomnia” many times as you showed me on one of your video’s. I then lay on the pillow, thinking rest, not sleep. Martin, at this time I have a clear mind!! After a period, time of just lying there, I reverse, laying on the other end of the bed, now with the fan blowing on my face. Chances are I get some sleep. I know this is very strange!!
What helped me is, I put the AWAK exercise in my phone. When I got in bed, I reviewed it. Next, I took the exercise where Martin had us repeat “insomnia” probably 50 times!! I repeated it both to myself, then a low voice. For me, as foolish as it sounds, it helped with destroying the word!! When I wake up in the middle of the night, I except it, instead of fighting it. Getting upset makes it worse!!
Martin,
Its January 26, 2024. Last week my sleep was good for me. I actually had one night where I went to sleep around 11:00 pm & woke up at 6:am!! The next night was different, but not the worst, went to bed at 10:30 pm, tossed & turned for about I’m guessing 20 minutes, fell asleep, but woke up off and on the throughout the night. As time went on, sleep once again started to revert back to the original start of this program. I truly am trying to alien myself to everything you have provided, going slow. I am not one to give up. I continued for inspiration listening to your podcasts.
My latest is last night I felt sleepy at about 10:15 pm. I went to bed and read for about an hour, feeling sleepier. I then closed my eyes, not attempting to fall asleep, but to relax like one gal in one of your podcasts said. I tossed & turned for a half hour, finally coming down to the living room where I went on the computer, going through 2 more of your lessons. I went back to bed, continued to toss & turn till I’m guessing 3:30 am!! Getting up at 9:00 exhausted!! Thats my storyMartin,
For a while my sleep seemed to be better. But then out of nowhere it got bad again!!What I do is I go to bed when I think I’m sleepy, but then I find myself awake!! So, I then go on my phone and start reading till I think I can’t read any longer, thinking I can fall asleep. Sadly, it doesn’t work.
Example, tonight my wife & I watched a movie till 10:30 pm. I stayed up for about an additional 15 minutes, thinking I was sleepy. Went to bed, said out loud 3 good things I did, praised myself for being a good person, then closed my eyes, saying to myself I’m tired knowing that I can’t create sleep. No good!! Started reading on my phone (I read biography’s) thought I was sleepy, repeated closing my eyes, nothing!! Martin, I have no negativity in my life. My health is good!! I retired 16 yrs. ago as a police chief, then I did have a lot of issues from stress, that I no longer have. As I am typing this to you it now is 2″00 am. I am lost, I’m sorry.#1 My thought was the original bedroom seemed to be an enemy. I tried to eliminate that thought, but couldn’t, so I thought starting in a new bedroom would help. (note, these were my daughters bedrooms when they were small, lived at home)
#2 I’m trying to settle my mind that being a good person will be one more adder in being successful sleeping
#3 I read somewhere that I should get up??? My thoughts were since I was experiencing wakefulness, these things could help me get sleepy
#4 No, I started going to the end, thinking if I change the location, my arousal would diminish.
I am going to have to go back & look at week #3. To the best of my knowledge, my action plan is to try & stay awake till I’m sleepy, go to bed, say 3 good things I did, tell myself I’m a good person. This is what I am doing now, understanding I cant make sleep happen, I close my eyes. This Martin is where I struggle. I have no intrusion thoughts, I have no pain, I have no worry’s, I just cant fall asleep. Again, what I don’t understand I slept the 3 nights in the motel room???
Thank you sir.
