How Lu stopped fighting anxiety at night

Ready to get your life back from insomnia? Learn more about my sleep coaching programs at https://insomniacoach.com Lu never used to think twice about sleep. Then, after having her first baby, one sleepless night changed the way she felt about sleep. What once felt natural started to feel urgent and fragile. For years, insomnia came and went. Lu tried to solve it with research, supplements, routines, relaxation, doctor visits, and medication during some of the hardest periods. But the night still felt heavy. In this episode, Lu shares how sleep anxiety took hold, why insomnia felt so lonely, and what began to change when she stopped fighting anxiety and started responding to herself with more kindness. She talks about making space for difficult thoughts and feelings, practicing kinder self-talk, changing her days, and adding meaningful things back into her life — including time with her family, date nights with her husband, volleyball, and walking her dog. This is a conversation about dreading the night, rebuilding trust, and learning that difficult nights can be met in a more workable way. If insomnia has made the night feel lonely, threatening, or like something you have to prepare for, I think you’ll get a lot out of Lu’s story. Subscribe for more real insomnia success stories and practical conversations about moving away from the struggle with sleep. Chapters: 00:00:00 Opening montage 00:01:02 Lu’s insomnia story overview 00:02:59 Podcast disclaimer 00:03:35 Interview begins 00:03:54 Insomnia starts after first baby 00:08:23 Trying everything to fix sleep 00:10:57 Like and subscribe message 00:11:45 Insomnia in the medical field 00:13:15 Ambien becomes a safety net 00:17:10 Twins, setbacks, and recurring insomnia 00:19:54 Twenty years of insomnia struggle 00:22:46 Finding an alternative to medication 00:25:28 Feeling seen and understood 00:26:55 Why coaching felt different 00:30:03 Self-compassion changes everything 00:32:20 Welcoming anxiety instead of resisting it 00:34:21 Making life bigger than insomnia 00:37:14 Learning to face anxiety 00:40:43 First experiences allowing anxiety 00:43:27 Daily stillness practice 00:44:48 Building a personal self-compassion script 00:47:14 Permission, kindness, and presence 00:48:18 Intention matters more than technique 00:50:23 Feeling safe with difficult thoughts 00:52:07 Setbacks, tools, and medication 00:53:22 Changing relationship with Ambien 00:58:07 Practicing differently during hard nights 00:59:28 Trusting the body’s ability to sleep 01:00:37 Summary of helpful changes 01:03:21 Timeline of recovery 01:06:51 How insomnia changed her life 01:08:37 Advice for people still struggling 01:09:57 Guest thanks and wrap-up 01:10:06 Coaching invitation and closing message ▶ 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 programs that will help you stop struggling with sleep so you can get your life back from insomnia. I also offer a free two-week sleep training course for insomnia at https://insomniacoach.com/sleep-train... You can also find me on 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 #sleepanxiety #insomniacoach #insomniapodcast