11 Awkward questions about insomnia recovery (from a former insomniac)

[@guylainelamoureux]

You are the proof that we can all recover. Great video. Thank you Alina.

[@AgnieszkaRousell]

You help me now Alina, a lot! I came to conclusion that there is NOTHING I can humanly do to sleep... I just simply give up from now on,no more torturing myself about solutions and clinging to sleep. I just simply had enough...

[@danh2310]

I think alot of us who are going through insomnia think we are stuck like this for ever. Because there is alot of negative stuff online. Thanks to you Daniel and martin we get to see the positive side. It really helps alot.

[@christinab2703]

Hi Alina, great video 😊 My biggest worry that drove the start of my insomnia was the thought that I would never recover. After learning more, I realized that I actually could and that gave me hope. But only recently did I truly *believe* that I actually could, it felt like a subconscious understanding that took time and I couldn't force it. This video really resonated with me about that, so thank you!

[@AyeshaKhan-q9s]

Hi How is your sleep now?

[@christinab2703]

​@@AyeshaKhan-q9s Hi, my anxiety around sleep has come way down. It still lingers, but when I look back at where I was compared to now, it's great. It really just takes time. Stick in there!

[@AyeshaKhan-q9s]

@@christinab2703 So sorry to bombard you with questions but how did you train your mind to believe that you will recover. I feel this is an obstacle in my recovery too. I’ve read so many horrible stories that my subconscious just doesn’t believe the success of others. Could you just let me know of how you dealt with the specifics of believing in the recovery?

[@christinab2703]

@@AyeshaKhan-q9s For me, I understood that the fear was telling me I would never recover. I had to realize this was a lie, even if I didnt believe id get better. But eventually, through watching lots of Alina's videos and hearing others success stories, my brain just kind of automatically switched out of that mindset and into believing I would get over this. It was truly a subconscious switch, driven by conscious choices of not letting the fear win. I also had to stop reading a lot of youtube comments because when I would read a bad one of someone really struggling, it also created doubt in my mind, so I just stopped reading them.

[@christinab2703]

@@AyeshaKhan-q9s Also I remember the moment it clicked, I was at a friends playing board games, feeling anxious about night time. But I told myself, "How about you just wait until you get home to worry about it?" A couple hours later, I realized I hadn't thought about sleep at all and actually was having a great time with my friends. That glimmer of normalcy is what actually made me believe I would get better.

[@adriannagerard3691]

Absolutely LOVE your videos!! Your thinking always resonates with me!! I feel sooooooo normal after listening to your message! A million 'Thank You's!!!!!

[@FearlessSleep]

You are so welcome! Glad you found it useful 🙂

[@nezaslana67]

Thank you. You really helped me to understand insomnia.

[@rishavadhikari8002]

Such a nice and engaging way you talk and the content. Loved it

[@Sarah-zh2dd]

Thanks Alina🤩 Love this💛💛💛 Another sweet, real and authentic video that helps bring clarity and light to some deep questions and doubts I know I’ve carried personally and I’m sure so many of us have at one point or another on the recovery path!🌿😊

[@FearlessSleep]

Thank you Sarah 🥰

[@whatemloves]

this was so helpful and amazing thank you for your guidance and re-assurance xx

[@FearlessSleep]

Always glad to help

[@RomySuchanek]

Hey, how did you come at the point were youre insomnia was gone and you just slept normal again without the fear it’s going to come back even when you have a bad night?

[@user-is7ly9oo2p]

Hi Alini have always had a fear that if my brain lost the ability to sleep. It makes me anxious. I think this type of thought is very common. How can i overcome. It is difficult to accept all this stuff

[@AyeshaKhan-q9s]

I have a very similar thought. Has anything helped you?

[@Big_Giant_Ben]

So you say it’s not dangerous to have insomnia? I thought it was? That’s why I get extremely depressed and anxious! I don’t want to shorten my life because of this terrible condition!

[@StreatHD]

Haha same. But there is no evidence at all that people with insomnia have any longterm health issues. When I had insomnia I really thought I could die from it. Then I learned about the truth und just used every night as an exposure showing my brain that it is totally safe to be as long awake as it allows me to, knowing there won’t be ever any threat in that.

[@StreatHD]

The thing is just that we have been conditioned by the marketing from sleepingdoctors. But it’s no way as important as they tell us to, they just wanna make a living of it -> basic marketing. And I don’t think of them as bad people they just wanna survive :)

[@TaylorQuince19493]

Have you answered on "when to go to bed" questions yet? Like if you have to wake up early, can you go early even when you're not sleepy?

[@FearlessSleep]

yep, check out this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5zUmGyFaJaKgdE

[@TaylorQuince19493]

@@FearlessSleep thank you!!!

[@loriscolangeli6142]

Go to bed when you're tired, doesn't really matter how many hours are left. If you're all charged up you're not gonna fall asleep anyways thus you don't need to sleep.

[@AyeshaKhan-q9s]

So my fear is that I’ll go into this deep pit of depression if I don’t get sleep because of all the intrusive thoughts I go through when I don’t sleep. How can one address such a situation?

[@lovelysee3780]

Hi Coach Alina! Hope all is well! I’ve been thinking about something a lot and wanted to know your thoughts on it. It’s the idea of resting when you can’t fall back asleep. We always say “Well if you can’t fall asleep, just rest”. My issue with that though was once I closed my eyes to just rest, that’s when the thoughts, feelings and sensations came like a railroad train lol. So all resting kinda went out the window… I laid there now trying to force resting while feeling all forms of the anxiety. I didn’t want to get out of bed or do anything else but lay in bed but now resting becomes a chaotic situation! So uhh.. what to do? Lol sometimes the eyes are soooo heavy that you do want to close them but because it’s dark and quiet, that’s when everything comes at you! Accepting whatever comes with resting- those intense thoughts, feelings and sensations, can be really tough. I always thought, how can people truly rest with all of these feelings that come once you try to actually rest? So you end up doing two things, trying to actually rest while trying to accept and let in whatever is coming at you. It feels like one can’t happen with the other present, or can they? Would love to hear your thoughts!

[@FearlessSleep]

Hi Sierra! You know, I think resting has a much broader definition than lying with eyes closed. I can easily imagine myself resting on a couch watching whatever I find nice on netflix or doing some mindless activity. Some people rest in the gym after a day of hard intellectual work - imagine that :D If the idea to lie down comes with a pressure component, then it's hardly a rest :) I would navigate myself towards that pressure-less state - whatever that looks like for you!

[@lovelysee3780]

@@FearlessSleep ohh okay got it. I always thought when people would rest, they would stay in bed in a restful state with their eyes closed. I thought, if that were possible- I don’t think insomnia would exist lol. I would love to throw myself into a completely restful state if I’m not sleeping lol. Okay it’s just doing whatever that comes with no pressure, thank you!

[@michelleweil6672]

Hi Ali! Amazing video!

[@FearlessSleep]

Michelle ❤️

[@mhrgall]

thank you!!

[@pakistanikorean]

I never napped during the day before insomnia. I am so tempted to nap when I get home after having a bad night. I am going through sleep disruptions/ speed bumps. Is it ok to nap or stay awake until night?

[@FearlessSleep]

I see no reason why we can't nap if we want to during the day :) When we take a rest because we feel like it, this isn't really a sleep effort and is totally allowed!

[@samanthapaclibar5079]

I've watched you in coach daniel YT

[@miked8523]

I used to get the heavy eyelids and sleepy feeling just sitting on the couch but now its gone, did this feeling come back to you after you recovered ?

[@FearlessSleep]

Yes, it did come back!

[@EmilyHockman-u8t]

So i should i stop taking medicine and lean into the discomfort to teach my brain its safe to not sleep?

[@FearlessSleep]

@@EmilyHockman-u8t the decision to stop taking meds or not is entirely up to the person and it’s best to consult a health professional before making any changes in medication. We can start embracing the night and any experiences regardless of whether we use aid or not.

[@EmilyHockman-u8t]

@@FearlessSleep I'm using over the counter. Idk... I feel in my heart I need to learn how to trust natural sleep or I'll never recover

[@rebekahbrown4052]

How did you finally first start being able to sleep?

[@FearlessSleep]

You can find the answers in my playlists "Start here" and "My insomnia recovery journey" :)

[@rainbeau9752]

i havent slept well n over 20 years. no one helps.

[@AyeshaKhan-q9s]

What caused your insomnia to begin with? Have you followed the sleep coach and Alina specifically?

[@RomySuchanek]

Hey, how did you come at the point were youre insomnia was gone and you just slept normal again without the fear it’s going to come back even when you have a bad night?

[@FearlessSleep]

Hi Romy, sure, I shared this in a couple of my videos related to my personal recovery journey: kzbin.info/aero/PLptq89EvkVvOPsmy8q2MN2gaTkoB1DZ-G Hope this brings a bit clarity!