How Eric got his life back from insomnia by focusing on what he can control (#53)

Ready to get your life back from insomnia? Learn more about the sleep coaching programs I offer at https://insomniacoach.com Eric's insomnia journey began after he woke in the middle of the night and experienced a huge panic attack. From then on, sleep became very difficult. As he tried to fix things, Eric stopped watching TV in bed with his wife — something they both enjoyed. He tried napping, even though he never used to nap in the past. He tried sleeping on the couch. He tried sleeping in a chair. He tried blue-light-blocking glasses. He stopped traveling. He isolated himself as he became convinced that his struggles were reflected in his appearance. He would beat himself up every time he had a difficult night. Eric's transformation began when he shifted his focus away from trying to control his sleep, his thoughts, and his feelings and redirected his efforts toward his actions. He started to do more of the things that mattered — even after difficult nights and even in the presence of difficult thoughts and feelings. He started to accept the presence of anxiety as a necessary ingredient for a rich and meaningful life. Eric found that the more he did this, the less power and influence sleep and anxiety seemed to have over his life. Eric was never into meditating but he started to practice meditation — not in an attempt to make sleep happen or to control his thoughts and feelings — but to practice and develop skill in making space for his thoughts rather than trying to fight or avoid them. He also gave himself permission to do something else during the night when he was awake, rather than tossing and turning. Today, sleep doesn't consume Eric's attention. His focus now is on controlling his actions and doing things that matter rather than trying to control his sleep and what he might be thinking or feeling. As a result, insomnia no longer holds Eric back. By practicing a new approach, Eric got his life back from insomnia. Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:04:48 Struggles with Panic and Anxiety 00:07:16 Early Sleep Disruptions and Efforts 00:10:20 How Insomnia Affected Daily Life 00:13:19 Obsession with Appearance and Fatigue 00:15:02 Battling Thoughts and Anxiety 00:18:03 Relationship with the Bed 00:19:53 Shifting Focus to What Matters 00:22:15 Attending Daughter’s Wedding Despite Fears 00:25:05 Thoughts vs. Experience 00:28:42 Initiate to Generate: Facing Anxiety 00:31:31 Living Fully Despite Anxiety 00:34:07 Thoughts Before Presentations 00:36:36 You Can Still Take Action 00:38:37 Challenging the Alternative 00:41:06 Letting Go of Medication 00:44:53 Difficult but Liberating Withdrawal 00:47:23 Managing Wakefulness at Night 00:50:24 Allowing Thoughts Without Struggle 00:52:15 Timeline for Recovery 00:54:08 Letting Go of Control 00:56:09 Bedtime and Wakefulness Changes 00:58:38 Letting Go of Sleep Rules 01:00:08 Redefining What a Rough Night Is 01:01:38 Final Advice to Listeners ▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel (and be sure to click the notification bell afterward​ so you don't miss any videos):    / @insomniacoach   My name is Martin Reed and I am the founder of Insomnia Coach®. I offer sleep coaching services that give people with insomnia all the skills and support they need to enjoy better sleep for the rest of their lives. I also offer a free two-week sleep training course for people with insomnia at https://insomniacoach.com/sleep-train... You can also find me here: Website: https://insomniacoach.com Twitter:   / insomniacoach   Facebook:   / insomniacoach   Instagram:   / myinsomniacoach   All content found on the Insomnia Coach YouTube channel 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. The statements and opinions expressed by guests are their own and are not necessarily endorsed by Insomnia Coach LLC. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied. #insomnia #sleep