Talking insomnia #87: Leighton never believed it possible - he is sleeping well after 17 years.

[@lovelysee3780]

Amazing episode Coach D! Loved the advice on LIVING your life regardless. I’ve even stopped saying I can “function” on little amounts of sleep and started saying I’m “living my best life” on little sleep!! This channel seriously deserves the highest of awards 🙌🏾

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Sierra, thanks so so much for the kind words 😊 super glad this episode resonated and… that’s a great way to express it! To function, doesn’t sound that appealing, but we can live our best life… this is so nice. Will pass this on 🙏

[@mrfernandog123]

​@@thesleepcoachschool8192 hey Daniel my name's Fernando.. I started having trouble sleeping a few months ago.. feels like I've went 2 months with zero sleep I'm shocked that I'm still alive and not crazy.. can I get on an episode on here id like to tell my story and also hopefully meet people going through the same thing

[@Limitlessluckyunique888]

@@lovelysee3780 how much is that little sleep you said?

[@Tesspvp]

Wow, this story had been such a comfort and so recognizable. Thank you Leighton and Daniel for sharing this with the world. ♥️

[@aquariusstarchild5156]

Hi Daniel I hope u see this but your channel is really helping me .with my chronic insomnia. Hearing people's stories of there struggles soothes me at night .I've had insomnia since 2005 .my doctors don't understand. Here mentions anxiety .that's how I get .at around 3.00am if I'm still not asleep I start to lie in bed and panic.another guy said he felt like it affected his breathing .same as me .I am not recovered But the tips you give I am trying .to think positively Cheers Laura .❤uk

[@hugotielen]

Thanks Leighton for sharing your story. Particularly helpful to me being someone who has suffered for 21 years from insomnia and a great reminder that healing from insomnia so deeply entrenched (like yours) really takes it's time, but ultimately it does heal. Very encouraging.

[@11ellie7]

Would love to hear your story tbh!

[@Limitlessluckyunique888]

how long is your sleep every night?

[@ann-b3n]

@ hi how are you?

[@LC35202]

Oh Leighton, you have created so much peace for me just by being you and sharing your story. I’m on the road of recovery and this is such a tough journey (one of the toughest for me) and I do feel if I can get myself out of this, I can truly take on anything in life. I thank you for sharing your wisdom and overall insight. We are all warriors in this invisible battle of anxiety. Thank you Coach Daniel for another inspiring video.

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

😊🙏

[@udhayanithi_g]

Just a powerful episode. A lot to learn from it. And yes, the biggest culprit is sleep efforts that cause this cycle.

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Yes! I literally had goosebumps so many times… Thanks for commenting 😊

[@basiabarbara3365]

This is brilliant ❤ Thank you Leighton for your story🙏🏻 This is perfect time for me to hear this. And I highly agree these 3 guys are doing a massive work around what insomnia really is. Thank you and bless you🙏🏻 ❤

[@rochellelooney1220]

This video is a gift for me today. I just had setback and this is what I need now. Thank you! Setback are ok and it’s alright :)

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

So glad to read this 😊

[@ruelfranco1399]

Hi Daniel. I talked with you many years ago through email. It's nice to see that your channel has amassed a lot of inspiring and insightful videos. I am watching this because, well you guessed it, I am suffering from a setback. I can relate so much to Leightons journey and I feel like I'm 90% there. I'm stuck at 90% because I've been afraid to make that final leap of faith. Holding on to my crutches, my strict sleep windows etc. Today is my first sleepless night in a long time and I am starting to feel different about it. I realize now that I should not worry about recurrence and waste no energy on it, but instead focus on and celebrate being awake! I am trusting that the process is working.

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Hi Ruel, Sorry to hear about the speed bump but, glad you’re back for a refresher here. You’re seeing things so clearly 🙂

[@SamuraiPoohBear]

Hey man I’m in the exact same Boat as you. How are you doing? Did you take the leap of faith?

[@InsomniaCoach]

Such a powerful and inspiring story - it's so good to know how well you're doing, Leighton!

[@johnlant1730]

Hi Daniel. So the sleep window thing has started to work well for me. I have always been a night owl. I got in a rut forcing myself to go to bed too early I think. I found going to bed at 1:30am and getting up at 7 as been working well. I have been getting solid sleep the past several days with no paradoxical insomnia or vivid dreams like I had. I was trying 12:30am as a bed time but wasn't working out well. 1:30 has been the sweet spot. I am probably getting 5 full hours a sleep a night now with no waking I can remember or trips to the bathroom because of my nerves.

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

John! I’m so glad to hear things have been getting easier for you 😊 And you know, the sleep window helps because it takes away much of the chasing sleep, it makes us try less and this - trying less, really is what helps. Oh and education of course, seeing that there’s nothing wrong with us. One thing to add, after some time you probably don’t want to have a sleep window and just, sleep. What can help is to not check the time after for example midnight. Not know the time and just go by how you feel. But anyways, this was wonderful to hear. Thanks for the update!

[@johnlant1730]

@@thesleepcoachschool8192 Will do! I will continue to keep you updated. Thank you for helping me get this far :)

[@polish_spice]

Hello Daniel, Thanks for this powerful story I’m currently in similar situation I’m undergoing CBT-i I just need to get into a habit of getting up and doing things like reading at night once I wake up instead of laying in bed and building up the monster and always be kind to myself

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Marcin! So glad you found it helpful, I thought there was so so much here that was super valuable. And yes, just keep an eye on intent. If we go “I have to get up so that I can sleep” then that’s a sleep effort! But when we go “I will get up because that’s what I’d liked to do in that moment, I think that’s an easier way than staying frustrated” - that’s the way 😊

[@SamuraiPoohBear]

Hey Daniel, is it better to lie in bed and accept the fear and wait for it to pass or is it better to get up to do something? This question haunts my nights when I can’t sleep

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Hi SPB, You know, it’s the idea that one thing is better than the other that really haunts us. Because then we are conflicted inside, but when we see that sleeping well or peace of mind has no requirements, that it doesn’t matter where we are or what we do, then there’s more and more peace

[@jasmines9228]

Hi Daniel! I finally bought your book. I have pure O (ocd) ruminating on topics. I used to obsess about the weirdest thing, school, hitting someone with my car, having a nightmare I hit someone with my car then checking police reports, just bizarre things. I recovered from ocd because i realized the worries didnt cause anything to happen. Unfortunately, I started to obsess about sleep and that obsession actually disrupts sleep.. That worry started at 18 and lasted 2 weeks. I was trying to lose weight and had one day of not being able to sleep (going from late sleep time during break, then trying to sleep early for school). That was when I was 18, but then sleeping next to my dad I was able to go back to sleep normally and not worrying. The not getting enough sleep worry re started my last semester of college where I was working full time as a aba therapist (stressful job) and full time school. This has started a 6 month issue with sleep, and it comes back and forth. Now I'm trying to lose weight again and the insomnia has increased in severity. I researched that limited sleep would prevent weight loss. Is this true or not?

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Hi Jasmine, Thanks for the support, hope you’ll find it helpful. And you know, obsessing itself doesn’t affect sleep, we can think about something all day long and still sleep well. It’s effort, trying to achieve a calm state of mind so that we sleep, trying to have a clear mind so that we sleep etc… this is what creates some trouble. And you know, there’s no evidence to show that little sleep causes trouble losing weight. I’ve heard so many times that clients or followers who had trouble sleeping lost weight, I think it can go both ways. It’s really when we do things to avoid an emotion (eating not to feel bored/anxious etc) that we gain weight, and not eating to achieve a sense of control (of anxiety etc) that we lose weight. Hang in there an let us know how things go!

[@jasmines9228]

@@thesleepcoachschool8192 yeah I read your book last night!!! Literally I'm not going to care if I don't sleep. So, last night I fell asleep in like 5 seconds and slept normally, because I didn't care. I actually think that when I can't sleep I can spend time thinking about the book I'm writing, meditating, putting energy towards manifestations I want, so its actually a good useful time. I think I might actually want to become a sleep coach! I was reading some of your replies to someone asking about ocd and if this would work or be applicable. You basically said it all comes down to fear which is true. I used to literally obsess and be SO scared about very bizarre things that I knew were strange, and then one day I said I dont give an F. So what, what if im put in jail for a crime I dint commit (okay God meant for me to go there and look at how beautiful the spirit is of those who spent their lives in jail for a crime they didn't commit, how much they learned), okay if I hit someone with my car its out of my control (I can only control going speed limit and safe driving, if none if those things prevent it than nothing will), if I fail school (I will survive and do something not requiring degree/it might be freeing), if my house collapses, if I say the wrong things and someone is hurt by it, etc., etc. I literally attempted suicide over this and went to a mental hospital. Worse period of my life. I will tell you medications and a lot of therapy didn't help me. Doing non-traditional hypnotherapy/ spiritual therapy helped me get rid of this feeling of being choked up constantly, by dealing with childhood trauma that made me all messed up and giving me inner peace about the past. Medications come with so many side effects physically, mentally, like you can't feel joy anymore. So, I stopped going that route. They gave me the diagnosis of pure O ocd, however when I have gotten control and that don't give an f attitude, it went away. So, now in higher stress moment I can go through bouts of it. But still live my life totally normally without intrusive thoughts.. I think the recovery stages are Decide to Don't give an f even though the feeling is still there Still have intrusive thoughts but not reacting Don't react long enough and intrusive thoughts stop. Pretry peaceful Sometimes intrusive thoughts pop up and you ignore/dont react. Peace. Anyway thanks for your help and insight! I will keep you posted. Its so nice to not be afraid anymore, as time goes on I know that acceptance/non fear will grow stronger. 💗

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Jasmine! I’m so glad it made sense and absolutely, when we are ok with whatever experience, I so believe this is the way to peace 😊 just like you say! Thanks for sharing your journey, I’m sure someone will relate much to it and it will help a lot! Talk soon!

[@aliiiiibaby]

@@jasmines9228 I have pure o about sleep and mental health. it's nice to hear someone got through this.

[@filipeferreira5087]

Incredible episode!! By the way, who is Trevor that he keeps mentioning?

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Thanks 🙏🙂! Trevor used to sleep coach, he had a KZbin channel and a program but he went back to focus on his day job as a counselor. He’s missed!

[@kellyvanderbel8751]

Hi Daniel, Can you also book appointment for one on one With you ? I see on the website it is only with the other coaches ?

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Hi Kelly, no I don’t do those anymore, but I check in to do group coaching calls monthly in our Immunity program teams. This said, the coaches are amazing and not only understand the theory- but have lived it. Rooting for you!

[@verenaschmidt7942]

Hey, everyone. I do have Insomnia now since a year. I often have breaks from 1-4 weeks and than it comes back. I'm very tired and sad. My head is constantly looking for a security and when it finds something I can sleep for a while. But after that it stops working and all starts again. I don't know how to feel save forever. I know all the health facts from Daniel so I'm not so concerned for that but more for my life quality. How can I break the circle?

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Hi Verena, Thanks for being in touch! Sorry to hear there’s struggle but glad you’re not worried about health, that can reduce lots of pressure. I think what can help so much is seeing that it’s our attempts to control sleep that come back - insomnia only exists when we try to prevent it. And so trying to break the cycle IS the cycle we are trying to break

[@fepratudo6165]

Hi Daniel! A few months ago I had a panic attack, anxiety and hypochondria that lasted a long time! from then on I developed muscle contractions and spasms, but now I can't sleep anymore! I close my eyes but when I go into deep (restorative) sleep and instantly wake up again! besides that I have weaknesses and tremors in my legs and hands Do you think it could be FFI or SFI? PLEASE HELP ME IM DESPERATE! 3 DAYS WITHOUT SLEEP

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Hi, Sorry to hear about the struggle and you know, nothing here is medical advice (!), this said, what you describe here is common when we are scared. Fear can make us stay awake, have many physical experiences that are uncomfortable, and I often say that if someone has the capacity to write an KZbin comment, that’s too advanced for someone with sfi. Which btw isn’t insomnia at all because with sfi there’s no fear of not sleeping! Hang in there and let us know how things go!

[@fepratudo6165]

@@thesleepcoachschool8192 eu nao tenho medo de dormir! eu nao consigo dormir por mais de 3 horas seguidas meu corpo desperta quando estou entrando em sono profundo com espasmos e ate deglutição involuntária! Do you think it showld be FFI or SFI?

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Hi! Check this playlist, I think it can help! kzbin.info/aero/PL6RQ1GS7B1cgjEXNFSpelP_HSsCpF56Ey

[@xxgulaggodxx885]

Have you found any answer to your sleep?

[@xxgulaggodxx885]

You describe exactly what I'm experiencing

[@Tum2Kai3]

Do you have a video which shows how to sleep next to a coughing, snoring spouse?

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Hi, this may help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKrShGt_qsyaoqMsi=NP-_y0U9ah7ajLX1

[@stripedbassangler8076]

Hey Daniel, How can I have one of these chats with you?

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Hi! Just email me [e-mail] and we will set a time 👍

[@jen4370]

is there any way to get in touch with leighton? I would love to talk to him if that would be possible

[@thesleepcoachschool8192]

Hi Jen, I think this is the best way. Many guests do check the comments..