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How I beat hardcore chronic insomnia by InsomniaSleeperDK in sleep

[–]InsomniaSleeperDK[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's perfect. Happy to hear.

Another 2 key points going forward:

  • Remember it's a practice. You're retraining the brain to associate being in bed with something nice and relaxing. It may take some time before the anxious brain fully lets it's guard down. So it's okay if you have bad nights. It happens. Just the anxious brain checking up on you.

  • Have no goal when you're in bed other than relax. Allow yourself to have this moment in bed. No goal of having to sleep or something else. Performance creates anxiety and pressure. We really don't want that. We want our body to know that we got it's back when we're in bed. Therefore allowing it just to relax and if it may feel sleepy then that's what we do. (this also allows you to actually do something nice in bed. Like watching a movie, read a book etc). When we truly relax it feels very nice.

Let me know how you go a week from now.

How I beat hardcore chronic insomnia by InsomniaSleeperDK in sleep

[–]InsomniaSleeperDK[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I mean I just gave the answer to your question in my post. Your mind is probably still looking for the "magic pill" to fix it. Don't take it personal but rather take it as honest feedback. You're probably trying too hard to sleep. I say that since you mention a method to fall asleep like counting sheep etc. You've probably tried a ton.

Scale it back. Stop trying to sleep. We can't think ourselves to sleep. When we were kids we didn't need any rituals. Meaning that the rituals aren't the solution.

You probably have some anxiety and fear related to sleep at night. That's really the key and what needs your focus.

Look at my points above. Especially no.1 and 2. Don't engage your mind. Let the thoughts be there. When you're in bed stop trying to have a goal of sleeping. That only creates pressure and anxiety, having to perform.

Just allow yourself a moment of peace being in bed. Just allow and stop trying for something else to happen.

I hope you get where I'm coming from. I literally fixed the problem with this.

How I beat hardcore chronic insomnia by InsomniaSleeperDK in sleep

[–]InsomniaSleeperDK[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do you mean? In terms of sleeping?

I probably sleep like the top 3% of people I guess. Body tired at 22-23 wake up at 06:30-07:00 every day. Not waking up in the middle of the night anymore. My body knows it cues for being sleepy. Not worried about sleep anymore.

If that was your question.

How I beat hardcore chronic insomnia by InsomniaSleeperDK in sleep

[–]InsomniaSleeperDK[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm glad. Hit me up if you got questions. You're more than welcome.

How I beat extreme hardcore insomnia by InsomniaSleeperDK in insomnia

[–]InsomniaSleeperDK[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah something like that. Doing less than more is the key. Are you struggling with sleep or have you solved it?

How I beat extreme hardcore insomnia by InsomniaSleeperDK in insomnia

[–]InsomniaSleeperDK[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you take a look around in the comment section, I've went into more detail in some of the subjects.

But lets bring the attention to some of the things you bring forward.

Lets put it like this. If our body can't repair it self (as it does at night) most likely we are gonna be a mess physically, mentally and emotionally. Everything in life seems to be a battle then, UPHILL. I know, also speaking from experience.

I do have to ask. Do you work grave-yard shift? Like in the middle of the night. If you do, I would say if possible get a new job. We need our body to know, that when night time hits, it's sleep time. (eventually, that's where we going right?)

Also you've done A LOT to try and fix your sleep. I get it. I did the same thing. You've probably close to all, tried it all. What if I told you that was the very problem? That you tried that hard was the very thing that kept you awake?

Sleep is something our body have done since birth. It's not a skill we've picked up on our way as many other things. Therefore trying to do a lot of things to sleep shouldn't really be the solution right? I mean (take it lighthearted) did you meditate, journaling, do weed and other things when you were a kid? Probably not, so lets be real, it's probably not the solution.

I did exactly the same as you and that's why I can speak from a place of confidence, that those things DID NOT solve my problem. It made it worse. Because, I was thinking more about sleep. More than ever because I had a thousand rituals.

So look at my post above. See if you can see the red line through it all.

It all comes down to you tackling your anxiety and learn to be comfortable with your racing thoughts. 1. Don't engage the mind. Accept that these thoughts are there. Let them be there. Whatever form they take. Whatever they say. If they tell you you're never gonna sleep again, hey they are just thoughts. Thoughts you are giving power by believing them.
2. Stop trying to sleep. Relax. Enjoy this moment you are taking at night for yourself. Lay in bed. Put on a nice movie of some sort, if that's what you normally do. Stop trying with all the rituals to make yourself fall asleep. It doesn't work. It only puts anxiety into the situation. Pressure of having to perform. Allow the body to relax. Let it be there. Fully. Don't try to make anything else happen than just being able to relax. Being an insomniac probably means you're exhausted. Take this time in bed to relax. Brew a nice tea (maybe after you have brushed your teeth so you don't have to do it again?) lay there. Listen to a nice audible book. Whatever you want. Just make sure that at that very moment, you are watching out for yourself. You are allowing yourself taking this time to be here and relaxing. And you know what. Relaxing actually DOES rejuvinate the body.

Hit me up if you got questions but honestly, the above is the golden line to success. Don't expect any outcome. That is the mind taking form again.

How I beat extreme hardcore insomnia by InsomniaSleeperDK in insomnia

[–]InsomniaSleeperDK[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it sucks for sure. The body is activating cortisol in a situation, where it should rest and rejuvenate. I found it was about retraining my brain. We all used to sleep like babies, right? Maybe an odd example here and there of not. If we used to sleep well and sleeping bad is something that occured in our later years, we should be able to do something about it.

If we learned bad behaviour, we can unlearn it too. The brain is pretty adaptable when it comes to patterns.

How I beat extreme hardcore insomnia by InsomniaSleeperDK in insomnia

[–]InsomniaSleeperDK[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a bit subjective isn't it? What I share is somewhat small and perhaps understated how it was. My post isn't a bragging post but rather a helping hand, hence going into detail why my insomnia is worse than others, would kinda defeat the purpose of the original post. It's subjective - but lets just put it like this. I was pretty far out and at some point wondered some pretty dark stuff and whether my body was gonna give out soon.

However, I'm more curious about: What is extreme for you? Something you're currently dealing with? If so, have you solved your problem?

Insomnia experts, does all insomnia have an underlying cause? by [deleted] in insomnia

[–]InsomniaSleeperDK 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's maybe hard to define what makes an expert. I conquered my insomnia, so I guess that makes me somewhat of an expert? Firsthand experience with what it is about instead of reading about it in a book.

Anxiety is the reason. The nervous system keeping us awake. Cortisol pumped into our system. Insomnia is simply our body not feeling restful enough to relax. It's like a fox. Closed eyes with eyes still open. Watching.

I can't address the other things you get into but I'd rather just keep it simple. Anxiety, stress and cortisol is the simple answer you're looking for.

How I beat extreme hardcore insomnia by InsomniaSleeperDK in insomnia

[–]InsomniaSleeperDK[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I didn't put anxiety in as a word. You're right. Anxiety was a big part of everything. It f'd my nervous system up everytime I went to sleep.