How Damien Left Insomnia by Embracing His Inner Child (Talking Insomnia #217)

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In this Talking Insomnia episode, we meet Damien, a high-performing professional who lived with chronic insomnia for more than 16 years. After a long period of suppressed emotional stress, his nervous system became stuck in hypervigilance, eventually leading to burnout and severe sleep disruption.<br /><br />Damien describes trying many “fixes”—from sleep aids to strict CBT-I rules—that only increased pressure and kept the struggle going. His recovery began when he paired deeper inner work with a psychotherapist and the gentle, non-controlling approach taught at The Sleep Coach School. By reconnecting with a sense of safety and allowing his body to soften out of the fight-or-flight cycle, Damien finally experienced lasting, peaceful sleep.<br /><br />If you’re new here and curious to learn more, our FREE video course, The Festival of Understanding, is the perfect place to start. Head over to https://www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click the link at the very top of the page to begin your journey.<br /><br /><br />If you're ready to leave insomnia for good, check out our coaching options. <br /><br />Head over to www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click on GET SLEEP in the menu. <br /><br />The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well.<br /><br />BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket. <br /><br />The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now.<br /><br />—<br /><br />Do you like learning by reading? If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs!<br /><br />Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen <br /><br />https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Courage-Twenty-six-accounts-insomnia/dp/B09YDKJ3KX<br /><br />Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen <br /><br />https://www.amazon.com/Set-Forget-ready-transform-sleep/dp/B08BW8KWDJ<br /><br />—<br /><br />Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that’s incredibly nice of you 😊. And here’s the link to do just that:<br /><br />https://www.patreon.com/thesleepcoachschool<br /><br />—<br /><br />Not sure where to start on your path to sleeping well? Check out these playlists!<br /><br />This is natto - the perfect place to start learning.<br />https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1cik8Xr8iVdxmKB9FYieevYj<br /><br />Success stories - if you need hope and inspiration, this is for you.<br />https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1cj68v9hdoXYv_fpOR65oI3U<br /><br />Talking insomnia - guests with trouble sleeping or experts share their stories / tips. <br />https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1ciGheE7iHbvdjXu29ZssK4q<br /><br />Hypnic jerks, hypnic awareness and other common issues.<br />https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1ci1B__oGwLvLaJ9Da1lmIKs<br /><br />Fatal insomnia - for those concerned about ffi and sfi.<br />https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1cgjEXNFSpelP_HSsCpF56Ey<br /><br />Speed bumps - when you think you had a setback or “relapse.”<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC8kIR3zDKA&list=PL6RQ1GS7B1cj4Q9IDryjCkjOONk7bv1wF<br /><br />Unrefreshing sleep - when you always feel tired or exhausted. <br />https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1cje9e66guVo6BsSF-glS8c7<br /><br />Momsomnia - if you’re a mom or becoming a mom.<br />https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1chwai9WPUngyfUs7j4w0e1F<br /><br />Heard online - when you’ve worried about claims made about health problems and insomnia.<br />https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1chQrr1ZeglMDHGKipJYuHZe<br /><br />This content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.

The Sleep Coach School 778 views November 20, 2025 6:01 pm

In this Talking Insomnia episode, we meet Damien, a high-performing professional who lived with chronic insomnia for more than 16 years. After a long period of suppressed emotional stress, his nervous system became stuck in hypervigilance, eventually leading to burnout and severe sleep disruption.

Damien describes trying many “fixes”—from sleep aids to strict CBT-I rules—that only increased pressure and kept the struggle going. His recovery began when he paired deeper inner work with a psychotherapist and the gentle, non-controlling approach taught at The Sleep Coach School. By reconnecting with a sense of safety and allowing his body to soften out of the fight-or-flight cycle, Damien finally experienced lasting, peaceful sleep.

If you’re new here and curious to learn more, our FREE video course, The Festival of Understanding, is the perfect place to start. Head over to https://www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click the link at the very top of the page to begin your journey.

If you’re ready to leave insomnia for good, check out our coaching options.

Head over to http://www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click on GET SLEEP in the menu.

The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well.

BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket.

The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now.

—

Do you like learning by reading? If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs!

Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen

https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Courage-Twenty-six-accounts-insomnia/dp/B09YDKJ3KX

Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen

https://www.amazon.com/Set-Forget-ready-transform-sleep/dp/B08BW8KWDJ

—

Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that’s incredibly nice of you 😊. And here’s the link to do just that:

https://www.patreon.com/thesleepcoachschool

—

Not sure where to start on your path to sleeping well? Check out these playlists!

This is natto – the perfect place to start learning.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1cik8Xr8iVdxmKB9FYieevYj

Success stories – if you need hope and inspiration, this is for you.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1cj68v9hdoXYv_fpOR65oI3U

Talking insomnia – guests with trouble sleeping or experts share their stories / tips.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1ciGheE7iHbvdjXu29ZssK4q

Hypnic jerks, hypnic awareness and other common issues.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1ci1B__oGwLvLaJ9Da1lmIKs

Fatal insomnia – for those concerned about ffi and sfi.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1cgjEXNFSpelP_HSsCpF56Ey

Speed bumps – when you think you had a setback or “relapse.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC8kIR3zDKA&list=PL6RQ1GS7B1cj4Q9IDryjCkjOONk7bv1wF

Unrefreshing sleep – when you always feel tired or exhausted.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1cje9e66guVo6BsSF-glS8c7

Momsomnia – if you’re a mom or becoming a mom.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1chwai9WPUngyfUs7j4w0e1F

Heard online – when you’ve worried about claims made about health problems and insomnia.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RQ1GS7B1chQrr1ZeglMDHGKipJYuHZe

This content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.