How Tim broke the cycle of sleep anxiety and insomnia by building skill in acceptance (#68)

YouTube Video VVVMNUxzTFVlVkEyal9Wc2w1NjI1c2hRLmQwUVh5Z0NpSFk4

Ready to get your life back from insomnia? Learn more about my sleep coaching programs at https://insomniacoach.com<br /><br />Tim’s insomnia began during a stressful time in his life. At first, it was just a few bad nights but the more he worried about it, the worse it got. The harder he tried to fix his sleep, the more he struggled.<br /><br />Things started to change when Tim learned a new way to deal with insomnia. He realized that trying to control sleep was actually keeping him stuck. So, instead of resisting wakefulness, he began to give it permission to exist.<br /><br />As he stopped following strict sleep rules and gave himself more freedom, Tim learned that being awake at night wasn’t the real problem — it was his response to the fear of not sleeping that made things harder.<br /><br />Over time, as Tim let go of the struggle, sleep showed up all by itself, without him needing to go to war with insomnia night after night. And, when he stopped chasing after sleep and focused on living his life independently of sleep, insomnia lost the stranglehold it once had over his life.<br /><br />Chapters:<br /><br />00:00:00 Introduction<br />00:04:44 Sleep Anxiety and the Cycle Begins<br />00:07:25 Panic, Medication, and Desperation<br />00:10:38 Cold Meds, ER Visit, and Misunderstanding<br />00:13:18 Doctor Visit and Starting Meds<br />00:16:38 Temporary Relief in Puerto Rico<br />00:18:50 The Crash After the Trip<br />00:21:05 Desperation, Sleep Rituals, and Misinformation<br />00:22:59 Finding Insomnia Coach and Hope<br />00:24:13 The Struggle and Shifting Focus<br />00:26:17 Tug-of-War With the Mind<br />00:27:26 Starting the Free Course<br />00:29:02 Realizing You Can Still Live Well<br />00:30:05 Navigating Divorce Without Falling Back<br />00:32:04 Struggles Resurface After a Setback<br />00:34:06 Relearning Kindness and Letting Go<br />00:35:44 Chasing Sleep and Shame<br />00:36:48 Starting the Full Course<br />00:38:15 Getting Pulled Back In and Reframing<br />00:39:48 Committing to an Experiment Without Meds<br />00:41:04 What Helped Most in the Course<br />00:42:16 Creativity and Cognitive Shifts<br />00:43:08 Progress Isn’t Linear<br />00:43:58 Permission to Rest in Bed<br />00:44:45 Responding to Night Wakings Differently<br />00:46:03 Mindset, Grit, and Long-Term Change<br />00:47:04 The Value of Long-Term Practice<br />00:48:01 Support and Lessons From the Course<br />00:49:32 Dealing With Difficult Daytime Thoughts<br />00:51:03 Measuring Progress and Letting Go<br />00:52:00 Timeline of Change<br />00:53:06 Sleep Isn’t Everything<br />00:54:02 Acceptance Over Struggle<br />00:55:59 Pressure, Self-Worth, and Insight<br />00:56:17 Final Message: You Are Not Broken<br />00:57:52 Outro and Contact Information<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=youtube040225<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 2K views April 2, 2025 10:51 pm

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

Tim’s insomnia began during a stressful time in his life. At first, it was just a few bad nights but the more he worried about it, the worse it got. The harder he tried to fix his sleep, the more he struggled.

Things started to change when Tim learned a new way to deal with insomnia. He realized that trying to control sleep was actually keeping him stuck. So, instead of resisting wakefulness, he began to give it permission to exist.

As he stopped following strict sleep rules and gave himself more freedom, Tim learned that being awake at night wasn’t the real problem — it was his response to the fear of not sleeping that made things harder.

Over time, as Tim let go of the struggle, sleep showed up all by itself, without him needing to go to war with insomnia night after night. And, when he stopped chasing after sleep and focused on living his life independently of sleep, insomnia lost the stranglehold it once had over his life.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction
00:04:44 Sleep Anxiety and the Cycle Begins
00:07:25 Panic, Medication, and Desperation
00:10:38 Cold Meds, ER Visit, and Misunderstanding
00:13:18 Doctor Visit and Starting Meds
00:16:38 Temporary Relief in Puerto Rico
00:18:50 The Crash After the Trip
00:21:05 Desperation, Sleep Rituals, and Misinformation
00:22:59 Finding Insomnia Coach and Hope
00:24:13 The Struggle and Shifting Focus
00:26:17 Tug-of-War With the Mind
00:27:26 Starting the Free Course
00:29:02 Realizing You Can Still Live Well
00:30:05 Navigating Divorce Without Falling Back
00:32:04 Struggles Resurface After a Setback
00:34:06 Relearning Kindness and Letting Go
00:35:44 Chasing Sleep and Shame
00:36:48 Starting the Full Course
00:38:15 Getting Pulled Back In and Reframing
00:39:48 Committing to an Experiment Without Meds
00:41:04 What Helped Most in the Course
00:42:16 Creativity and Cognitive Shifts
00:43:08 Progress Isn’t Linear
00:43:58 Permission to Rest in Bed
00:44:45 Responding to Night Wakings Differently
00:46:03 Mindset, Grit, and Long-Term Change
00:47:04 The Value of Long-Term Practice
00:48:01 Support and Lessons From the Course
00:49:32 Dealing With Difficult Daytime Thoughts
00:51:03 Measuring Progress and Letting Go
00:52:00 Timeline of Change
00:53:06 Sleep Isn’t Everything
00:54:02 Acceptance Over Struggle
00:55:59 Pressure, Self-Worth, and Insight
00:56:17 Final Message: You Are Not Broken
00:57:52 Outro and Contact Information

▶ 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=youtube040225

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