The PROCESS of how insomnia ENDS (Summer series #1)

In this episode of the Sleep Coach School's summer series, we revisit Insomnia Insight number 419 to explore the process of overcoming insomnia.
Using an analogy from the 1983 movie 'War Games,' the episode delves into how insomnia ends, the struggle of finding a solution, and the importance of 'abandoning the game.' Join us for this insightful journey into transforming your relationship with sleep.
Also, stay tuned for exciting announcements about upcoming series and new content from our coaches.
Would you like a copy of our FREE 'Off-to-Dreamland' kickoff booklet?
If you said "Duh" then simply head over to www.thesleepco... and click the link at the tippy top.
Happy reading!
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Would you like to work with one of our certified sleep coach? Awesome! Here are some great options:
- The Insomnia Immunity Group Coaching Program.
- BedTyme, a sleep coaching app for iOS and Android offering 1:1 text based coaching.
- Zoom based 1:1 coaching with Coach Michelle or Coach Daniel.
The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well.
BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket.
The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now.
Find out more about these programs here:
www.thesleepco...
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Do you like learning by reading? If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs!
Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen
www.amazon.com...
Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen
www.amazon.com...
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Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that’s incredibly nice of you 😊. And here’s the link to do just that:
/ thesleepcoachschool
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Not sure where to start on your path to sleeping well? Check out these playlists!
This is natto - the perfect place to start learning!
• This is Natto - Start ...
Success stories - if you need hope and inspiration, this is for you.
• Success stories
Insomnia insight - a list of every single episode.
• Playlist
Talking insomnia - guests with trouble sleeping or experts share their stories / tips.
• Talking insomnia
Hypnic jerks, hypnic awareness and other common issues.
• Hypnic jerks and more.
Fatal insomnia - for those concerned about ffi and sfi.
• Familial and sporadic ...
Speed bumps - when you think you had a setback or “relapse.”
• Talking insomnia #55: ...
Unrefreshing sleep - when you always feel tired or exhausted.
• Unrefreshing sleep
Momsomnia - if you’re a mom or becoming a mom.
• Momsomnia
Heard online - when you’ve worried about claims made about health problems and insomnia.
• Heard online
Best!
This content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.

[@lukaslitzellachner6916]

I never commented on these but I have been lurking here for a while. My insomnia started this year (2024) in January when I couldn't sleep after I injured myself in the gym. I spent nights being nervous about my injury and the fact that it was hurting and preventing me from sleeping. It was so bad, that after the injury healed I still couldn't sleep. That's when I got afraid of not sleeping. At its worst point in February, I went two weeks in a row of sleepless nights, followed by nights with like two to three hours, followed by another sleepless night and so on. I was worried I would lose my job because I thought I couldn't perform at work. I was worried I would lose my relationship because I was emotionally exhausted. I was worried I would lose my mind, frankly... Then I did two things: I started therapy where I learned about ACT, and simultaneously I found your vids. Both of these things together helped me live life "as if I didn't have insomnia", which - experience by experience - taught me again that not sleeping is not a threat: Wakefulness is not a threat. Since then, I have been on a skiing holiday with mates (where I was on the slope after a night of zero hours, and it was a lot of fun!) and went on a road trip holiday with my girlfriend (I was driving it all, she has no licence - and it went brilliantly!). I have been sleeping soundly ever since. My last zero-hour night was in May. I might get a bit nervous before bed every now and then, but then I remember how much fun I had on the slope even after not sleeping... or when I went to the office after not sleeping and still managed to figure out tough coding problems... or when we went to the museum on the road trip after I didn't sleep and it was a real positive day to remember. Ever bad night of sleep is just another chance to make a positive memory associated with wakefulness on the next day - and positive memories truly are the cure (at least they were for me)! So I guess this is just to say thank you. You and your free content played a big role in my recovery my guy and I won't forget that. I wish everyone who struggles with this the best! Befriend wakefulness, be patient and kind to yourself, and I promise it will get better!

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Thank YOU so much for sharing after hanging out here for a while. This was so wonderful to read, super glad our way and ACT (I think of them as cousins!) was so helpful 😊 Be well now and stay in touch!

[@gamyjuarez]

I have been on this ride for 16 months. I feel I am fully restored. I will have intrusive thoughts but always fall asleep quickly. I have been on a good 3 months without issues. There is hope. Believe!!

[@stevenv123]

What did you do to fix ?

[@YoelMarcu]

omg I am watching this during my third sleepless night in this week, after a long period of good sleep and it is filling me with hope hope. You're giving me my life back.

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

🤗🙏

[@guppy1776]

This video made something click for me. I've been going through a speed bump, and have been struggling with/confused about "how" to "let go" and "accept". I know I can't force myself to do it, but at the same time I really want to so that I can sleep. All while knowing that wanting to do something so that I can sleep is what causes me not to sleep. This video has made me understand that letting go and accepting is itself a process that happens below a conscious level, not within our control. Every night that I'm awake, my brain learns a bit more that there is no threat, and being awake at night is not the end of the world or something to fear. Yes, its unpleasant, and I would rather be peacefully asleep, but it doesn't warrant fear and panic. Like Daniel says, abandonment is a process. Even the feeling of wanting to force abandonment in order to sleep is part of the process of abandonment that is outside of my control. If I am awake tonight, my brain will be learning and making progress towards peace for good. What a paradoxical and fascinating phenomenon. I feel one day, when the struggle is behind me, I will be thankful for this experience and the teachings it brings.

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

So very glad to read this, I can hear the click all the way here, this is the way 😊

[@carriebilbrey]

If it wasn’t for the speed bump a couple of weeks ago, I may not have ever found one of your coaches!!! That night (watched the video in the middle of the night) I drifted off and got 2-3 hours of sleep. Woke up and told my husband “That was the most pleasurable sleepless night ever!!” Boom…progress baby! That 2-3 hours proved to my brain to be enough because I went to an amusement park with my family and had the best time ever!!

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

So glad you found us and things are getting easier 😊!

[@Michael-yp9ip]

Man, this is the truth for anxiety recovery as a whole. Great video my friend.

[@heggietje]

Great insight! I am in recovery for almost 2 years, but still playing the game.. Curious when my brain is going to “give up” and stop playing. For people who are triggered by this: I already learned so much and sleep well 95% of the time. I am just still anxious about it.

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Thanks so much 🙏! And you know, the awareness you have will lead where you want to be I have no doubt… we all play the game sometimes, but the awareness that leaving it is the way leads there

[@rachelmarshall2750]

What if you were harmed by psych meds and still trying to taper off my insomnia is not an insomnia it's very disturbing and very scary they will not test me for SFI either I'm at a loss here nothing works for my sleep nothing I don't even get tired during the day can't nap please help I know I have sporadic fatal insomnia at this point

[@danh2310]

Scary

[@jamiethomas6987]

I'm going on 2 years also. I'm on vacation and haven't slept at all in 2 nights. It's awful and I want to just be normal. I still can't sleep in the same bed as anyone either. 2 years.

[@danh2310]

@@jamiethomas6987 come on man it's not rocket science your obviously doing something that perpetuates it. Yes it's hard and it's a long process to unlearn the fear . But that's all it is. There's is nothing else there. I know it's tough

[@TheWorldIsPeopleing]

I have a suggestion, maybe you could have your camera in the corner and you're "reacting" to the old insomnia insight with your updated knowledge. That would be good in case you have any useful extra insights you could add!

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Thanks much for this 🙏 I actually skimmed through and only saw the reaction part a month ago, didn’t realize the idea was reacting to my own content! Will definitely give it a try 😊

[@jacobtamkin6122]

amazing insights and analogies! You have a beautiful way of turning some of the most harrowing moments of my life into something that isn't scary or negative anymore. I hope you know that you have positively impacted so many people like myself and I hope you continue to do so! I am just coming back here after not being able to sleep for the first time in about a month or two. You made me realize that I am just stressed and anxious and that has nothing to do with not sleeping, but other stresses in my life.

[@fifachapo9203]

Excited for the Series 😋

[@1timbarrett]

Looking forward to your Summer Series…! 😊

[@Boilah]

This is some really transformative stuff. Have been an anxious sleeper most of my life and CBTi just added to that; something that I needed to conquer and achieve in and rules that wasn't effective, thus the feeling of me being inherently wrong grew deeper. Just ordered your book and are in the new chapter to befriend my bed. Cheers from Sweden

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Thanks! Jag är också från Sverige 😊 Håller tummarna för dig, bara du är villig att lära dig och se inåt så kommer du anlända där du vill vara 👍

[@Boilah]

Wow, hade ingen aning om det. Tack Daniel för all info, ser fram emot denna resa. Bless you!

[@SophieNenich]

How to handle the anger and deception emotions ? I had 2 weeks of good sleep after I was able to befriend wakefulness. But since a few nights, the insomia is back, with a vengeance. I cannot get up at night and do something enjoyable anymore because I cannot stop being anxious, even if I know, and proved my brain many times that I can have a good day even with no sleep. When I do it anyway, as soon as I go back to bed the hyperarousal is back, with twitches, sudden awakening after a few minutes sleep, palpitations, racing thougths. These racing thoughts are my main problem, because I’m so angry with myself and this situation, in my head, I speek so unking to me, it is like I’m talking to a child who did wrong, and I know exactly that this speedbump is due to my anger and this state of no acceptance of this insomnia. I know I have so sit with it to allow this feeling to be able to release it, but I don’t know how to do it. We cannot force acceptance, we cannot forc kindness to ourselves. I feel stuck in this.

[@terrymoody4819]

Still learning myself Sophie I too get angry with myself, want to beat the crap out of my stupid self, but I know that won't help, but I know the feeling, one thing that is true... just food for thought feelings come from thoughts so simple yet so profound.

[@priyankasarkar1084]

Hi, I'm a 23 years old lady who is suffering for very bad insomnia for 4 months... I became very nervous and afraid at night even in day time. My family and my boy friend was very very supporting, they were telling that sleeplessness can't kill me so let it be happen how long it can. But I wasn't believing. Then just one month ago I didn't fall asleep for 9 days long... Yes it may sounds impossible but it happened. First 4 days I was very weak but I don't know how my body accepted it. My boy friend started to awake with me the whole night and whenever the fear started coming I just text him and instant he replied. Then after 9 days of staying awake he just told me did it harmed you or you died? From that day I started facing the fear and didn't cry. Til now i'm not recovered but i can say the fear have almost 90% gone and some kind of sleep happens to me almost every night and I'm totally healthy. So sleeplessness doesn't kill or harm the brain right sir???

[@SuoHayato4378]

Amazing analogy..Thanks ..will try to live my life best ever..🙃

[@elainep.204]

Ahhh wonderful video. Been on a roll for several weeks. Still have fear, still have evenings when i think im headed straight for another speed bump. But i still end up sleeping. Befriending wakefulness is still incredibly difficult. But as soon as i know ive come to terms with it, its odd but sleep comes.

[@jonathanmandel8835]

This is such a good video. Great idea to bring back some of the former videos! So much good content here!!

[@kimberlymorgan8953]

I have been on this journey for a little over 3 years and I have left a lot of the fear of a sleepless night and actually feel that my sleep is back to normal, thanks to this channel. My brain now wonders what it will feel like to go days without sleep and that has kept me with some residual fear. Any advice on how to let go of this fear, especially since I’ve never had to experience several days without sleep? I’m finding it hard to let go of a fear that has not given me a chance to experience. I know not to force it but I feel that I’m looking to experience it everyday so my brain can see that I am safe and can handle it.

[@KristenNicole222]

Hi Daniel, thanks for this and all your videos. Do you still have classes to become a sleep coach? Also I would love to be on to share my experience. You have helped me so much over the years.

[@cgore4]

Couldn't the computer figure out the same thing by analyzing nuclear war scenarios themselves.

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Yes, but for us humans (and this particular computer) experiential learning often is what really makes a difference

[@jasbirde]

Is skip beats a common finding in insomniac in ur experience denial..?

[@Jordan_Benzos_Peterson]

How do you stop playing the game without trying to?

[@rachelmarshall2750]

Please help i know i have sporadic fatal insomnia

[@ianchapple4642]

Didn't really get it