How Adam released himself from the prison cell he had built to protect him from insomnia (#40)

YouTube Video VVVMNUxzTFVlVkEyal9Wc2w1NjI1c2hRLlR6akpPTlIxUFdJ

Ready to get your life back from insomnia? Learn more about the sleep coaching programs I offer at https://insomniacoach.com<br /><br />Adam’s insomnia began the night before an important work presentation. After a really difficult night, Adam ended up calling in sick — and this planted a seed in his mind that told him that difficult nights would mean he couldn’t go through with important plans.<br /><br />Safety behaviors such as canceling plans or avoiding activities in order to protect his sleep helped Adam feel a bit better in the short-term but over the long-term they were preventing him from living the kind of life he wanted to live.<br /><br />In other words, his comfort zone became more like a prison.<br /><br />In this episode, Adam shares how he learned to let go of his anxiety, his anger, his fear, and his intense desire to avoid nighttime wakefulness. He also talks about the benefits of self-kindness and how he managed to separate how he slept at night from his ability to engage in things that would help him live the kind of life he wanted to live and be the kind of person he wanted to be.<br /><br />Today, Adam has released himself from that prison cell. He is living his life and sleeping a lot better!<br /><br />Chapters:<br /><br />00:00 Introduction<br />02:19 When Sleep First Became a Struggle<br />04:04 How Sleep Problems Evolved Over Time<br />05:09 The Experience of Difficult Nights<br />07:05 Nighttime Struggles and Emotional Toll<br />08:45 Daytime Effects of Insomnia<br />11:38 Failed Fixes and Quick Remedies<br />13:54 The Trap of Trying Too Hard<br />16:07 Thoughts, Feelings, and Performance Pressure<br />18:09 Learning to Let Go<br />21:05 Breaking the Sleep-Performance Link<br />23:02 Living a Values-Based Life<br />24:44 The Power of Community and Shared Stories<br />26:58 Moving Beyond the “Insomniac” Label<br />30:31 Missed Opportunities Due to Labels<br />32:02 The Paradigm Shift of Acceptance<br />34:02 Reframing Sleep Deprivation and Meaning<br />36:14 Supportive Relationships and Letting Others Sleep<br />37:57 Taking Ownership of Wakefulness<br />39:54 Understanding Sleep Drive and Arousal<br />41:03 The Fear That Insomnia Steals Life<br />42:56 How Nighttime Behavior Has Changed<br />44:50 Battling Anxiety vs. Letting It Be<br />46:31 Fish, Rapids, and Letting Go<br />48:48 Health Anxiety and Misinformation<br />50:44 The Downside of Obsessive Research<br />53:14 Summary of Helpful Shifts<br />55:28 Compassion and Self-Kindness<br />57:39 Controlled Information and Ritual<br />59:13 Treat Yourself Like Someone You Care For<br />01:00:25 Final Advice for the Hopeless<br /><br />▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel (and be sure to click the notification bell afterward so you don't miss any videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL5LsLUeVA2j_Vsl5625shQ?sub_confirmation=1<br /><br />You can subscribe to the Insomnia Coach® Podcast through the following platforms:<br /><br />Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insomnia-coach-podcast/id1469454957<br /><br />Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnNvbW5pYWNvYWNoLmNvbS9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qv<br /><br />Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eVnnsowPQAnS4cZX73dEf<br /><br />Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=432360<br /><br />TuneIn: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Health--Wellness-Podcasts/Insomnia-Coach(R)-Podcast-p1232227/<br /><br />PodBean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/gz957-98ea6/Insomnia-Coach%C2%AE-Podcast <br /><br />iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-insomnia-coach-podcast-46606122/<br /><br />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-training/?ref=youtube070622<br /><br />You can also find me here:<br /><br />Website: https://insomniacoach.com<br />Twitter: https://twitter.com/insomniacoach<br />Facebook: https://facebook.com/insomniacoach<br />Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myinsomniacoach/<br /><br />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.<br /><br />#insomnia<br />#sleep

Insomnia Coach 2.6K views July 6, 2022 7:19 pm

Ready to get your life back from insomnia? Learn more about the sleep coaching programs I offer at https://insomniacoach.com

Adam’s insomnia began the night before an important work presentation. After a really difficult night, Adam ended up calling in sick — and this planted a seed in his mind that told him that difficult nights would mean he couldn’t go through with important plans.

Safety behaviors such as canceling plans or avoiding activities in order to protect his sleep helped Adam feel a bit better in the short-term but over the long-term they were preventing him from living the kind of life he wanted to live.

In other words, his comfort zone became more like a prison.

In this episode, Adam shares how he learned to let go of his anxiety, his anger, his fear, and his intense desire to avoid nighttime wakefulness. He also talks about the benefits of self-kindness and how he managed to separate how he slept at night from his ability to engage in things that would help him live the kind of life he wanted to live and be the kind of person he wanted to be.

Today, Adam has released himself from that prison cell. He is living his life and sleeping a lot better!

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction
02:19 When Sleep First Became a Struggle
04:04 How Sleep Problems Evolved Over Time
05:09 The Experience of Difficult Nights
07:05 Nighttime Struggles and Emotional Toll
08:45 Daytime Effects of Insomnia
11:38 Failed Fixes and Quick Remedies
13:54 The Trap of Trying Too Hard
16:07 Thoughts, Feelings, and Performance Pressure
18:09 Learning to Let Go
21:05 Breaking the Sleep-Performance Link
23:02 Living a Values-Based Life
24:44 The Power of Community and Shared Stories
26:58 Moving Beyond the “Insomniac” Label
30:31 Missed Opportunities Due to Labels
32:02 The Paradigm Shift of Acceptance
34:02 Reframing Sleep Deprivation and Meaning
36:14 Supportive Relationships and Letting Others Sleep
37:57 Taking Ownership of Wakefulness
39:54 Understanding Sleep Drive and Arousal
41:03 The Fear That Insomnia Steals Life
42:56 How Nighttime Behavior Has Changed
44:50 Battling Anxiety vs. Letting It Be
46:31 Fish, Rapids, and Letting Go
48:48 Health Anxiety and Misinformation
50:44 The Downside of Obsessive Research
53:14 Summary of Helpful Shifts
55:28 Compassion and Self-Kindness
57:39 Controlled Information and Ritual
59:13 Treat Yourself Like Someone You Care For
01:00:25 Final Advice for the Hopeless

▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel (and be sure to click the notification bell afterward so you don’t miss any videos): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL5LsLUeVA2j_Vsl5625shQ?sub_confirmation=1

You can subscribe to the Insomnia Coach® Podcast through the following platforms:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insomnia-coach-podcast/id1469454957

Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnNvbW5pYWNvYWNoLmNvbS9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qv

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eVnnsowPQAnS4cZX73dEf

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=432360

TuneIn: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Health–Wellness-Podcasts/Insomnia-Coach(R)-Podcast-p1232227/

PodBean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/gz957-98ea6/Insomnia-Coach%C2%AE-Podcast

iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-insomnia-coach-podcast-46606122/

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-training/?ref=youtube070622

You can also find me here:

Website: https://insomniacoach.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/insomniacoach
Facebook: https://facebook.com/insomniacoach
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/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