How Laura found freedom from insomnia by accepting her thoughts not just her sleepless nights (#71)

YouTube Video VVVMNUxzTFVlVkEyal9Wc2w1NjI1c2hRLmlTRkFlUDVLUVVv

Ready to get your life back from insomnia? Learn more about my sleep coaching programs at https://insomniacoach.com<br /><br />Laura never expected insomnia to arrive during one of the happiest times in her life.<br /><br />She had just gotten engaged. She was heading out on vacation. But one sleepless night quietly snowballed into many — and nights quickly became something she feared.<br /><br />She tried everything: supplements, routines, medication, strict sleep hygiene. But nothing seemed to work. The harder she tried to fix sleep, the more distant it became. And eventually, she realized the struggle wasn’t just with sleep — it was with her thoughts and feelings about sleep.<br /><br />She found herself caught in a loop: trying to control, reason with, avoid, or edit every uncomfortable thought. Every wave of fear or frustration. And it was exhausting.<br /><br />The real shift came when she began to relate to insomnia differently — not as a problem to defeat, but as an experience to meet with less resistance. She practiced making space for the thoughts and feelings that showed up, and bringing her attention back to actions that helped her live the life she wanted to live.<br /><br />It wasn’t a straight path. There were setbacks. Relapses. Hard nights that tested her resolve. But each time, there was something to learn. Because while change is hard — not changing can be even harder.<br /><br />And Laura kept going. With persistence. With compassion. With honesty. With courage.<br /><br />Today, she still has the occasional tough night — like all of us do. But those nights have lost all the power and influence they once had over her. She knows how to move forward, independently of sleep, and no matter what thoughts and feelings might be present.<br /><br />This is Laura’s story.<br /><br />Chapters:<br /><br />00:00:00 Introduction<br />00:03:50 How Insomnia First Began<br />00:05:42 Spiraling During the Vacation<br />00:07:13 Struggles at Work and Daily Life<br />00:09:33 Reframing Setbacks and Sleep Perception<br />00:11:04 Sleep Hygiene and Trying Everything<br />00:13:39 Losing Connection to What Matters<br />00:15:01 Medication Trials and Acceptance<br />00:17:10 Discovering a New Approach<br />00:19:44 Understanding Acceptance in Practice<br />00:21:08 Realizing Daytime Functioning Was Possible<br />00:23:29 Facing Fears Around Acceptance<br />00:25:45 Personalizing the Acceptance Approach<br />00:27:07 Measuring Progress Beyond Sleep Hours<br />00:30:42 Setbacks and Lingering Anxiety<br />00:33:05 Learning Not to Argue with Thoughts<br />00:35:00 Practicing Mindfulness Without a Goal<br />00:37:14 Building Skill Through Ongoing Practice<br />00:39:08 Life After Struggle: Less Resistance<br />00:41:01 Applying the Approach to Everyday Stress<br />00:42:32 The Power of “What Do I Want to Do Now?”<br />00:43:31 Final Advice to the Hopeless Sleeper<br />00:45:41 Outro and Farewell<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 />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=youtube070325<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 July 3, 2025 9:09 pm

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

Laura never expected insomnia to arrive during one of the happiest times in her life.

She had just gotten engaged. She was heading out on vacation. But one sleepless night quietly snowballed into many — and nights quickly became something she feared.

She tried everything: supplements, routines, medication, strict sleep hygiene. But nothing seemed to work. The harder she tried to fix sleep, the more distant it became. And eventually, she realized the struggle wasn’t just with sleep — it was with her thoughts and feelings about sleep.

She found herself caught in a loop: trying to control, reason with, avoid, or edit every uncomfortable thought. Every wave of fear or frustration. And it was exhausting.

The real shift came when she began to relate to insomnia differently — not as a problem to defeat, but as an experience to meet with less resistance. She practiced making space for the thoughts and feelings that showed up, and bringing her attention back to actions that helped her live the life she wanted to live.

It wasn’t a straight path. There were setbacks. Relapses. Hard nights that tested her resolve. But each time, there was something to learn. Because while change is hard — not changing can be even harder.

And Laura kept going. With persistence. With compassion. With honesty. With courage.

Today, she still has the occasional tough night — like all of us do. But those nights have lost all the power and influence they once had over her. She knows how to move forward, independently of sleep, and no matter what thoughts and feelings might be present.

This is Laura’s story.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:50 How Insomnia First Began
00:05:42 Spiraling During the Vacation
00:07:13 Struggles at Work and Daily Life
00:09:33 Reframing Setbacks and Sleep Perception
00:11:04 Sleep Hygiene and Trying Everything
00:13:39 Losing Connection to What Matters
00:15:01 Medication Trials and Acceptance
00:17:10 Discovering a New Approach
00:19:44 Understanding Acceptance in Practice
00:21:08 Realizing Daytime Functioning Was Possible
00:23:29 Facing Fears Around Acceptance
00:25:45 Personalizing the Acceptance Approach
00:27:07 Measuring Progress Beyond Sleep Hours
00:30:42 Setbacks and Lingering Anxiety
00:33:05 Learning Not to Argue with Thoughts
00:35:00 Practicing Mindfulness Without a Goal
00:37:14 Building Skill Through Ongoing Practice
00:39:08 Life After Struggle: Less Resistance
00:41:01 Applying the Approach to Everyday Stress
00:42:32 The Power of “What Do I Want to Do Now?”
00:43:31 Final Advice to the Hopeless Sleeper
00:45:41 Outro and Farewell

▶ 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

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=youtube070325

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