How Dulce gained freedom from insomnia by giving up her attempts to control sleep (#63)

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Dulce’s insomnia began when she left Mexico to study abroad in Canada. The stress of midterms and the change of climate led to sleep disruption. However, even after returning home, sleep continued to create a struggle and insomnia became a part of her life.
Even when she felt sleepy, Dulce struggled to rest. Anxious thoughts regularly interrupted any sleep she was getting. Medication and supplements didn’t get rid of the insomnia or the difficult thoughts and feelings that were showing up with it.
Things began to change for Dulce when her brother shared his observation that the more she seemed to try to make sleep happen, the more she seemed to struggle. Dulce began to realize that all the trying and all the effort to make sleep happen and all the sleep hygiene rules and rituals were giving insomnia more power and influence over her life and making things more difficult.
Dulce then found the Insomnia Coach podcast and took comfort in the fact that what she was going through wasn’t unique or unusual - that she wasn’t alone. Realizing that a different approach was needed, she enrolled in my six-week course.
Dulce started going to bed later at night and really appreciated the extra time she had in the evening (she also gave herself permission to watch TV, listen to music, and read books that were interesting rather than boring at night)! She started to respond to wakefulness and the thoughts and feelings that came with it with less struggle - being more of an observer rather than an opponent. She reduced and eventually eliminated her use of melatonin.
Dulce found this approach empowering. Instead of trying to control her sleep, she was letting go - and this freed up energy that helped her do more of the things that really mattered to her. She became focused on controlling her life rather than her sleep and that shift reduced the power and influence sleep had over her.
This process took time and Dulce created the best possible conditions for success by focusing on implementation rather than putting pressure on herself to make a certain amount or type of progress happen within a certain timeframe. As a result, Dulce has now freed herself from the insomnia struggle.
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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 insomniacoach....
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All content found on the Insomnia Coach KZbin 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.
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[@InsomniaCoach]

All content found on the Insomnia Coach KZbin 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.

[@roosterafterhours2]

With a disclaimer like this why on earth does anyone hire you? All you insomnia coaches are frauds. You all are preying on vulnerable and desperate people.

[@stefatan]

Great Listen!

[@mestayno]

I really want to know the answer to one question. Will I ever be able to sleep a sufficient amount? You may say well sufficient is different to anybody but it's not. I sleep 4-5 hours only. I can never fall back asleep. If I could sleep for at least 6 hours it would be much better I know it. Before insomnia when I slept only 6 hours I was okay. And most people sleep around 8 hours. So will I ever in my life sleep enough hours so that I'm not exhausted all day, everyday, each day. This question might be important to any insomniac. But the reason it's very important to me, is because I did get my life back together. I have a job, I'm working out, in a band again. I'm not struggling to fall back asleep. It's just not happening. I fear this is the best I can get. But this is not very good.

[@jimwelsh905]

Thank you for this session. There is something I am confused about . I keep saying that I have had insomnia for 4'years because I wake in the middle of the night but get up to clear my head of thoughts or disturbing dreams ,usually only awake for20 minutes. Is this not insomnia because I have been catastrophising about for the past 4 years!!

[@IrishMexican]

I would definitely not call that insomnia, but that’s just me

[@roosterafterhours2]

What Dulce doesn't realize (or maybe they do) is that their insomnia will return. They think they're cured because they are temporarily in a better place. They didn't cure anything because severe chronic insomnia is NOT curable, it always returns.

[@InsomniaCoach]

Difficult nights will always show up again from. time to time - just as Dulce acknowledged in this discussion! The difference now is that when difficult nights show up they don't create the same level of struggle - they have lost their power and influence over her life. Therefore, they are far less likely to stick around for long and they are far less likely to have the opportunity to develop into chronic insomnia.

[@roosterafterhours2]

@@InsomniaCoach "and develop into chronic insomnia" she isn't even there. And, what she doesn't realize is that she is more likely to have it return at a much more severe level. You coaches justify every level of your scam with calculated responses I'll give you that. However, I've been around too long to fall for your tactics. Your disclaimer tells all I need to know. I've been through Trevor's program (scam), and then Daniels (scam), individual coaching (therapy). None of you know, truly know what's going on, you're simply stating your beliefs (which anyone can do). My past sleep coach (from Daniels) even admitted to me that the SCS is a "little too: this is the way and our way is right" when in her words "is not right". I'll be posting the email today. So justify however you want and continue to prey on these certain desperate people. Daniel teaches that CBT-I is bad and you say it's good. Two (friends) with 2 completely different viewpoints on insomnia are both saying their right. Funny how Trevor was using Insomnia Coaching to help pay his way through grad school (off the record) yet when he graduated he quit sleep coaching. Remember the round table meeting between all of you early early on, when you all discussed who would be teaching what, Daniel moved from CBT-I and left that for you and he moved to his own approach, so you two would cover most bases. Why Trevor left also, because there really wasn't any room for him any longer. Thanks for the insight on that one Alina!

[@IrishMexican]

Have you or are you working with a psychiatrist and therapist regarding your sleep issues?

[@roosterafterhours2]

@@IrishMexican I did in the past (numerous psychiatrist/therapist and even an outpatient program through a hospital), it was pointless...and to answer your other question. Daniel has never had insomnia. Everything he has learned regarding the topic is what his students have told him, then he molded into his own way of thinking/teaching. He's a snake oil con man. You don't have to believe me although I've been through his course and have spoken with lots of members and coaches. I'm just here to make people aware of the reality of his scam. I do encourage you to watch the video on my channel. This is a very condensed version of my story, however it will give you some insight to the falsities.