How insomnia thrives on attention, just like a playground bully

YouTube Video VVVMNUxzTFVlVkEyal9Wc2w1NjI1c2hRLnJOV25HX2pCRGhF

It’s true that the school bully might initially pick out their victim based on who appears to be an easier target (just as insomnia picks us out at times of change, heightened stress, worry, or uncertainty) — but both only stick around if they get the attention they crave.<br /><br />Related video: <br /><br />Every time you feed your insomnia, you make your insomnia more powerful and more demanding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4Iwdk6TTxQ<br /><br />If we try to avoid insomnia, if we stop visiting friends because we had a difficult night, if we stop pursuing enjoyable activities because of sleep and insomnia, if we shut ourselves indoors all day, and if we allow insomnia to control our decision making, we give insomnia the attention it needs to thrive.<br /><br />Related video: <br /><br />Adding more enjoyable moments to your life and planning fun activities reduces the power of insomnia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cg7HMiM-Z4<br /><br />If you have had any experience with a bully you’ll know that the bully doesn’t usually lose interest the first time you ignore them. You need to be consistent. The bully will probably return quite often at first, to test your resolve. They might even start to work even harder to get a reaction from you. However, over time they will lose interest if you don’t give them the reaction and attention they crave. <br /><br />And, insomnia is the same. If you can avoid the temptation to react to a difficult night of sleep, that probably doesn’t mean insomnia will disappear overnight. You need to be consistent. The insomnia will return — probably quite frequently at first — to test your resolve. You might put together a few good nights of sleep and then insomnia returns more intensely than ever before. This is just the insomnia testing you. To see if it can work its way back into your life. <br /><br />Related video:<br /><br />When you have insomnia, keep looking forward and avoid dwelling on the setbacks and difficult nights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQl-aRu5Qrg<br /><br />If you don’t give insomnia the attention it craves, if you choose not to give it any influence or control over your life, you’ll be well on your way towards getting rid of your insomnia and enjoying better sleep for the rest of your life.<br /><br />Related video:<br /><br />If you have insomnia, what happens tonight is far less important than what you do today and tonight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOe8bPAW5IQ<br /><br />▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel (and be sure to click the notification bell afterward so you don't miss any videos): http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL5LsLUeVA2j_Vsl5625shQ?sub_confirmation=1<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=youtube052220<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. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.<br /><br />#insomnia<br />#sleep

Insomnia Coach 4.6K views May 22, 2020 7:17 pm

It’s true that the school bully might initially pick out their victim based on who appears to be an easier target (just as insomnia picks us out at times of change, heightened stress, worry, or uncertainty) — but both only stick around if they get the attention they crave.

Related video:

Every time you feed your insomnia, you make your insomnia more powerful and more demanding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4Iwdk6TTxQ

If we try to avoid insomnia, if we stop visiting friends because we had a difficult night, if we stop pursuing enjoyable activities because of sleep and insomnia, if we shut ourselves indoors all day, and if we allow insomnia to control our decision making, we give insomnia the attention it needs to thrive.

Related video:

Adding more enjoyable moments to your life and planning fun activities reduces the power of insomnia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cg7HMiM-Z4

If you have had any experience with a bully you’ll know that the bully doesn’t usually lose interest the first time you ignore them. You need to be consistent. The bully will probably return quite often at first, to test your resolve. They might even start to work even harder to get a reaction from you. However, over time they will lose interest if you don’t give them the reaction and attention they crave.

And, insomnia is the same. If you can avoid the temptation to react to a difficult night of sleep, that probably doesn’t mean insomnia will disappear overnight. You need to be consistent. The insomnia will return — probably quite frequently at first — to test your resolve. You might put together a few good nights of sleep and then insomnia returns more intensely than ever before. This is just the insomnia testing you. To see if it can work its way back into your life.

Related video:

When you have insomnia, keep looking forward and avoid dwelling on the setbacks and difficult nights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQl-aRu5Qrg

If you don’t give insomnia the attention it craves, if you choose not to give it any influence or control over your life, you’ll be well on your way towards getting rid of your insomnia and enjoying better sleep for the rest of your life.

Related video:

If you have insomnia, what happens tonight is far less important than what you do today and tonight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOe8bPAW5IQ

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

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=youtube052220

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. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

#insomnia
#sleep