How Esther starved insomnia of its power in the presence of generalized anxiety disorder (#65)

YouTube Video VVVMNUxzTFVlVkEyal9Wc2w1NjI1c2hRLkpPM1dOdHBXOTV3

Ready to get your life back from insomnia? Learn more about my sleep coaching programs at https://insomniacoach.com<br /><br />When Esther tried moving away from a medication she was taking for generalized anxiety disorder, she found herself struggling with sleep. She would often wake with a jolt and experience panic and anxiety. Even when new medications helped with other issues, sleep continued to be a challenge and created a lot of ongoing anxiety.<br /><br />On her way to work one day, Esther came across the Insomnia Coach podcast and listening to the stories of people who had overcome their struggle with insomnia motivated her to start working with me.<br /><br />In this episode, Esther reflects on the changes she made that proved to be most helpful for her. They included going to bed later at night, doing something more pleasant whenever she found herself struggling during the night, continuing to do things that mattered to her even after difficult nights, and acknowledging her thoughts and feelings and refocusing on the present moment (rather than focusing on trying to fight or avoid difficult thoughts and feelings).<br /><br />Esther became less fearful about the possibility of insomnia showing up. She became more comfortable in its presence.<br /><br />Insomnia lost the power and influence it once had over her.<br /><br />Chapters:<br /><br />00:00:00 Introduction<br />00:04:18 How Medication Changes Affected Sleep<br />00:07:43 Esther Describes Her Insomnia Nights<br />00:10:00 Failed Fixes and Frustration<br />00:13:54 Discovering the Podcast and New Hope<br />00:15:32 Starting Sleep Coaching and Early Shifts<br />00:16:57 Letting Go of Sleep Rules<br />00:19:22 Responding Differently to Wakefulness<br />00:21:27 Learning to Acknowledge Thoughts and Feelings<br />00:23:04 Why Resistance Makes It Worse<br />00:26:05 The Brain’s Misfire: Mistaking Wakefulness as Danger<br />00:27:50 Impact of Misconceptions About Sleep<br />00:30:18 Shifting the Focus Away from Control<br />00:32:13 Going to Bed Later and Releasing Pressure<br />00:35:42 Realizing Sleep Isn’t Everything<br />00:37:01 A Breakthrough: No Longer Scared of Bedtime<br />00:39:45 Discovering Good Days After Bad Nights<br />00:41:36 Labor Stories and No Sleep Highs<br />00:43:00 Changing Context and Interpretation of Wakefulness<br />00:44:23 Anxiety and Excitement: Same Physiology<br />00:46:49 Letting the River Flow: Reducing Resistance<br />00:47:57 Doing What Matters, Even When It’s Hard<br />00:50:36 Accepting Anxiety as a Lifelong Companion<br />00:51:30 What Sleep Looks Like Now<br />00:53:17 Final Reflections on Wakefulness and Control<br />00:54:00 Advice for Others with Chronic Insomnia<br />00:55:37 Outro and Final Thoughts<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 />YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzlNKjoB23Ll7PSEJHquZjx4QSbZAtQy9<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 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-training/?ref=youtube120924<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 2.4K views December 9, 2024 8:07 pm

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

When Esther tried moving away from a medication she was taking for generalized anxiety disorder, she found herself struggling with sleep. She would often wake with a jolt and experience panic and anxiety. Even when new medications helped with other issues, sleep continued to be a challenge and created a lot of ongoing anxiety.

On her way to work one day, Esther came across the Insomnia Coach podcast and listening to the stories of people who had overcome their struggle with insomnia motivated her to start working with me.

In this episode, Esther reflects on the changes she made that proved to be most helpful for her. They included going to bed later at night, doing something more pleasant whenever she found herself struggling during the night, continuing to do things that mattered to her even after difficult nights, and acknowledging her thoughts and feelings and refocusing on the present moment (rather than focusing on trying to fight or avoid difficult thoughts and feelings).

Esther became less fearful about the possibility of insomnia showing up. She became more comfortable in its presence.

Insomnia lost the power and influence it once had over her.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction
00:04:18 How Medication Changes Affected Sleep
00:07:43 Esther Describes Her Insomnia Nights
00:10:00 Failed Fixes and Frustration
00:13:54 Discovering the Podcast and New Hope
00:15:32 Starting Sleep Coaching and Early Shifts
00:16:57 Letting Go of Sleep Rules
00:19:22 Responding Differently to Wakefulness
00:21:27 Learning to Acknowledge Thoughts and Feelings
00:23:04 Why Resistance Makes It Worse
00:26:05 The Brain’s Misfire: Mistaking Wakefulness as Danger
00:27:50 Impact of Misconceptions About Sleep
00:30:18 Shifting the Focus Away from Control
00:32:13 Going to Bed Later and Releasing Pressure
00:35:42 Realizing Sleep Isn’t Everything
00:37:01 A Breakthrough: No Longer Scared of Bedtime
00:39:45 Discovering Good Days After Bad Nights
00:41:36 Labor Stories and No Sleep Highs
00:43:00 Changing Context and Interpretation of Wakefulness
00:44:23 Anxiety and Excitement: Same Physiology
00:46:49 Letting the River Flow: Reducing Resistance
00:47:57 Doing What Matters, Even When It’s Hard
00:50:36 Accepting Anxiety as a Lifelong Companion
00:51:30 What Sleep Looks Like Now
00:53:17 Final Reflections on Wakefulness and Control
00:54:00 Advice for Others with Chronic Insomnia
00:55:37 Outro and Final Thoughts

▶ 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

YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzlNKjoB23Ll7PSEJHquZjx4QSbZAtQy9

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 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-training/?ref=youtube120924

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