Welcoming the Unwelcome: Keith's Spiritual Journey of Leaving Insomnia (Talking Insomnia

[@skeptik-ci5xo]

Another totally relatable guest, including the running aspect as well! I have been a runner for 30 years and it's been a critical lifeline throughout all sorts of struggles. I almost never let insomnia keep me from going for a run. If I have less energy than normal one day, that's ok; I might run slower, take walk breaks, or run fewer miles. Sometimes my best runs are after poor or little sleep - Coach Daniel talks about this paradox frequently. But running is such an integral part of my life and my identity, there is not much that can sideline me. I never contemplated this before I discovered this channel; it was simply a non-negotiable. But now understand and am getting better each day at accepting that this is a testament to the fact that our thoughts and beliefs about sleep have more of an impact on our quality of life than the sleep itself. The fact that I am capable of running 8 miles on 2 hours of sleep is proof that not only can I function on little sleep, but I can perform. Not every day, and not in every way. But it is POSSIBLE. And that is the encouragement I need to stay the course. This is a whole new way of thinking for me, and I still experience some cognitive dissonance about it. But since I have adopted this mindset and put it into action, I have the empirical evidence to support it. (***DISCLAIMER: I am not recommending my running habits to anyone who is not already a runner! This is just one example from my life of how I have been able to overcome limiting beliefs about insomnia***). Keith's story really reinforces the importance of attitude during the toughest times. So inspiring!!! Thank you for mentioning the "fawn" response!! It's so rarely mentioned, but it's integral to the model of somatic experiences.

[@praveenadupa1225]

I am recovering slowly now. but afraid to pick up on my regular runs..any suggestions! last couple of times i tried, i couldn't sleep!

[@skeptik-ci5xo]

@@praveenadupa1225 This is a multi-part question, which is hard to answer without knowing you or your situation. But I would acknowledge the fear, thank it for warning me, and do it anyway. Teach your brain that there's no reason to fear running, just as there's no reason to fear being awake. That being said, if it's been a while, start off slow so you don't injure yourself. If you find you don't have the energy or it doesn't feel good, then you don't have to continue. When you say the last couple of times you tried running you couldn't sleep, how can you know that running was the reason? Have you considered that perhaps you were subconsciously looking for or predicting a cause-effect relationship between running and not sleeping because it's a new variable that you have added to the equation? Try to remember that the key is for us to befriend wakefulness, not manipulate our lives in an attempt to make sleep happen (a.k.a. sleep efforts). If you can get comfortable with this idea, then you might find it doesn't matter whether running affected your sleep or not. We want to work on dismissing the compulsive urge to control what we can't control, and simply do things we would already be doing if sleep were a non-issue (within reason, of course). This advice comes from what I have learned and implemented from Coach Daniel's videos, books and the principle of NATTO (non-attachment to the outcome) that he bases them on; and they are helping me in a way that nothing else has come close to. I would say trust me, but better yet, trust YOU! I hope this helps. Good luck :)

[@praveenadupa1225]

@@skeptik-ci5xo Thank you! appreciate your comment! Yes, my plan to start slowly again and listen to my body and energy level and keep working on it gradually! the reason, i was trying to point to my runs last two runs were also because i was able to sleep find couple/few days leading to the run day. and night of the run(ran around afternoon) was pretty awake! But again, it is very hard point to single source. because another time i noticed, was a different when i have medium size black coffee with a brownie!. So, i think, they both(running and coffee) are leading to my sugar/corisol levels and my body is not able to recover by night!

[@joshuakim2812]

Hi! Thanks for the great interview! I have purchased the mini 5-day course, and found it to be helpful so far! I have a question related to one of the modules-- Day 2 Timeless Sleep Window that I am hoping that Daniel and the coaching community might be able to answer. Specifically, I am wondering if there is a general rule of thumb for establishing our "night start" time? For some context: I have clinical anxiety and ADHD, and I have problems with simply BEING and the idea (and reality) of truly feeling like it’s okay to have no obligations after a night time period. I have a really demanding schedule and I always feel like I am forgetting something and thus not truly able to just let things go and just be (I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way). Also, Like many others living in today’s constantly ‘ON’ times, the reality is also that there is always more work to be done. So, I don’t feel comfortable or “justified” in having a period of time where I can truly feel like I have obligations. I think I struggle with feeling completely safe and secure to just SIMPLY BE and to ALLOW myself to have no obligations after a set period of time. With this in mind, what are the general guidelines for me to establish my timeless DAY START time and NIGHT START time? Thanks so much! 🙏🏻

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

So glad you found it valuable 😊! And also that the course has been helpful. You know, I think the answer here is about when we think our day ends when keeping thinking of “day” as the time for getting things done. We can think of our day as a time for obligations, work and for completing tasks. Of course that’s not all that the day is about! But - the day tends to be when we do whatever goal oriented or necessary things we do. The night on the other hand is a time for rest, a time where we don’t have anything we need to do, no obligations, a time where we are free from whatever goals or necessary activities we may have. Which leads to the question: when does our day end? For me personally, when the kids are in bed, the dish washer is running, I’ve locked the door… my day is over and my night starts. It has much more to do with the energy of day/night than a clock time, but it typically happens around 9:30 to 10:30. Now, it seems you already knew the above! And so perhaps it’s more a question of practicing self kindness… allowing oneself to miss something, not pressuring oneself so much… which is not at all as easy as it sounds. But when we see the value of being kind and gentle with ourselves, then that’s really what leads to more and more peace of mind and peaceful sleep 😊

[@pergolafish]

Thanks Daniel and Keith. I appreciate you Keith in the immunity program. I thought we had similar patterns but my brain is too stubborn or I have too much going on, I can't seem to progress.

[@christopherfernandez8153]

I fell asleep while watching / listening to this video. It was that good. 😂 An afternoon bagger it was. Learning to relax in the middle of the terror is a developed skill that will see you through any of life's ups and downs. Thanks for posting this, Daniel. I'm currently enrolled in the immunity program trying to reach that place of calm within the storm. Sometimes I doubt if it's possible, but watching videos like this give me hope. Thanks again. 🙂

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

So glad you found it Christopher and you saw it’s possible to sleep even when we’re really frazzled. And you know, every person you see in a video like this once doubted it was possible for them… it always is 😊

[@brittanymordovin3975]

Please answer this question in a q and a on why some people if they have a late night can sleep in and others cannot. If I go out with friends or have a late dinner, i can’t sleep in. I’m so used to getting up at 5:30 everyday that my body usually wakes up before my alarm. My husband can sleep in later when he goes to bed late, but he also doesn’t go to bed at the same time during the week like I do. Is there anyway of adjusting this without putting in effort?

[@leafsleafsleafs2]

@@brittanymordovin3975 people's bodies and brains are different. That's it. That's the answer.

[@brittanymordovin3975]

@@leafsleafsleafs2 I understand but even when I go on vacation and friends or my husband want to go for drinks and a later dinner I feel hesitant and have a bit of anxiety while I’m out because I know I’m not going to get much sleep and everyone else will. I live in Miami so later dinners are normal and I feel like I can’t go because my body wakes up so early from my routine weekdays.

[@brittanymordovin3975]

@thesleepcoachschool8192 maybe you can elaborate on this and explain why it’s different for people. I know some peoples schedules aren’t as structured as others so they have more fluctuation with sleep but why else is it? It would be more enjoyable if I knew I could sleep in the days we go for later dinners if I wanted to

[@willyb3070]

I feel the same way this is the third time i go through this and im 47 and work shift work. I beat it before but i think its the fear of fear and my brain remembers that fear.

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Hang in there, remember- when we look for something to beat there will be a struggle. When we don’t, then we sleep peacefully 😊 rooting for you

[@shelbymadson6762]

Currently going through a speed bump and am on my third night of no sleep. I am realizing I have anxiety that is fueled by the fear that I might die if I don't sleep again.. Has anyone else gone through this same fear? How did you get through it? :(

[@leafsleafsleafs2]

Doctor, do you believe some people's psychological insomnia might be more complex than others' (excluding biological, mental health, or medical reasons)? Or it is really just a matter of the subconscious understanding there is nothing to fear.

[@robbielynnhowle]

Please answer this question

[@leafsleafsleafs2]

@@robbielynnhowle from what I learned, I think he will say no. He says no insomnia is unique.