TRYING to Sleep is Like Chasing A Cat

[@hyungnim702]

Due to this video I remembered a teacher from school during my teens. He said: "If you're nervous the night before the finals, and can't find sleep, do this: go to bed, turn of the lights and rest. Just rest." Years later I understood the message. Even if you can't find sleep, the body needs at least the opportunity to rest and sleep eventually follows. If we are able to let go, the body acts accordingly.

[@PainFreeYou]

YES - love this story. Thank you for sharing.

[@lennekevanrossum8422]

True 😘

[@Inge508]

My sleep- issues go back to 2004, the onset of a small depression and chronic headaches.. since 2011 fibromyalgia- pains and I read all the sleep books and the warnings about not sleeping long enough. That ramped up my fear and worsened my sleep. Since January I let go of all that trying.. like you say: i look forward to my rest in bed now.. although my pains spike hard at night.. Slightly I feel improvement. In the moments of pain when I’m awake, I stay calm and think about things that make me happy.. I know that after a few really bad nights my body will eventually sleep, so I don’t over- worry anymore. Over time when my whole nervous system settles down, and feels safety, my sleep will be good too! I’m feeling less zombie throughout the day already, so that’s a big win already!😀 Lovely sunny day here and I’m gonna be in my garden a lot today, absorbing nature and sunlight which is also beneficial for good / better sleep! Have a lovely Wednesday Dan and everyone! 🌻🤗☀️☀️☀️

[@paulamorphett9131]

Have a lovely 🌞☀️ day Inge in your garden 🌻🪷🌼🤗🌴🪴 . Wet and rainy hear today 💦🌧️ but still love looking out at mt garden 😊 ❤ x

[@LilyOscar333]

Inge I know what sleep 😴 problems are like 🙈 But better at the moment. Please lit candle 🕯️ some anxiety, fear around today.. about this upcoming MRI ! Thank you Inge for your caring and friendship 😊💕😘❤️🥰

[@Inge508]

@@paulamorphett9131thank you Paula! Sending you lots of our ☀️ ❤

[@Inge508]

@@LilyOscar333okay a special anti- anxiety candle is on the way! Around six in the evening, I go into the church ⛪️! Don’t be anxious before, you will do great and have certainty and then you will be able to take the best decision! Take good care ❤

[@lennekevanrossum8422]

Enjoy your garden sweet Inge ❤️😘

[@Daffodil729]

So relevant for me. I slept well until I was 67 years old. Then had an adrenal collapse and everything changed. Now 6 years on and falling asleep seems like the hardest thing. Coupled with TMS, nights have become even more of a challenge. However, your words make complete sense and I see that I need to adopt a whole new attitude towards sleep and rest. Thank you Dan for your wise words.

[@PainFreeYou]

You are quite welcome. You can do this.

[@nancyrussell6598]

I READ THAT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SLEEP TRY TRYING TO STAY AWAKE AND IRONICALLY IT CAUSES YOU TO SLEEP DON'T KNOW IF IT WORKS BUT IT SOUNDED INTERESTING

[@PainFreeYou]

Love that paradoxical intention. And it works too!!

[@lennekevanrossum8422]

Yes 😘

[@lalanellie8396]

Hey Dan. I’m literally just reading a book called End Insomnia by Ivo H.K. and it basically uses your method throughout the book! Don’t worry about not sleeping, lay and rest and focus on breathing or a body scan to help relax you. It also clears up misconceptions about sleep and studies done on insomniacs who do not die any younger then those who do sleep! Takes the fear factor right out of the equation. Some other helpful tips but in my opinion, the same method as Sarno and other mind body concepts. Better than CBT-I and it explains why. It’s really helped me let go of sleep anxiety. Toni 😊

[@PainFreeYou]

Great - thank you for sharing that book with me and the community here.

[@monicathrasher3561]

Where did you get that book? It’s $50 on Amazon

[@Hinz2005]

12:21 great idea to remember when sleep came easily. I grew up in the South. I have literally slept through tornadoes! I also slept through a hurricane during a vacation. My Mom remembers how I would “pass out” after a day of swimming, on a towel, on the concrete, under a big umbrella. I will try to think back to what a good sleeper I was and know I can get back to that!

[@lennekevanrossum8422]

Hi Hinz good plan you can sleep like a baby again ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@PainFreeYou]

Yes - great memories. Sleep shouldn't be difficult.

[@kathleenwharton2139]

You are right..Dan! GIVING IN to Sleep works Better. 😊❤

[@PainFreeYou]

Yes indeed.

[@bchristopher2270]

Everyone can rest. And all rest is good. That’s what I tell myself. I take all pressure off of sleep. Humans can get by with very little. And the more pressure I take off of it… naturally the more I sleep. Just rest! Literally ANY laying down is resting. That way… you always win! (And pressure evaporates)

[@lennekevanrossum8422]

Well said ❤️

[@PainFreeYou]

Absolutely - love it.

[@sandracrosby5204]

Great advice Dan will certainly try it xx

[@PainFreeYou]

Keep me posted. It may take some practice, but it will help for sure.

[@girlupnorth555]

Absolute gold🥱😴

[@PainFreeYou]

thank you.

[@girlupnorth555]

@@PainFreeYou ❤️

[@LilyOscar333]

Dan so true about chasing the cat 🐈‍⬛.. I have two lovely kitties and I know exactly what you mean! I find stroking a cat and listening to the purrs so relaxing 😌 Cuddles to Finn 🐈‍⬛ from Milly and Oscar 🐈🐈 ❤

[@PainFreeYou]

Finn is asleep on the bed now.

[@Hinz2005]

This is an interesting topic. I have found that improved sleep has been another “side effect” of your approach. One of the first success stories I listened to featured a man who shared how ritualistic he became towards symptoms. I made the connection that I have a tendency to get really fixated on rituals. This ties directly to “fixing activities”. Instead of any hard/fast rules about sleep hygiene, I just try to do my best. I don’t have a strict routine any more. I like to read or color before bed. I usually take a warm bath but not always. I no longer force myself to sleep in a certain position. If I wake up, I just stretch and get up if I need to. The less I make of it, the better it gets. My hubby has a cold right now. So last night we went to bed early. I colored for a while then I looked at my phone after dark. I slept fine. I really truly think that a loose routine is fine, but rituals can stir up fear. For me, this has proven true time and time again.

[@dianemoore1184]

This rings true to me. I’ve been noticing I am too rigid trying to follow the rules of sleep hygiene, sleeping position, etc. This wasn’t as obvious to me as the way I coddled myself re migraines vs this TMS mindset.

[@Hinz2005]

@@dianemoore1184 agree! It can be awkward when you stop engaging in rituals. It is like unraveling a knot in the Christmas lights. Like, I know I can do this but how? I had (have) to stop trying to see the end of things. Just casually pluck out the knots, with trust that I will get untangled.

[@dianemoore1184]

@@Hinz2005 well said!

[@lennekevanrossum8422]

Yes well said ❤️

[@PainFreeYou]

YES - any rigid ritual creates fear if for some reason we are not ON that ritual properly.

[@funkymonkey8777]

Very helpful. Thanks Dan 🙏🏻

[@PainFreeYou]

You are welcome.

[@AvaGreenFeather]

Awesome Finn inspired video! 🐈‍⬛😄 Thank you Dan!! 🙏😊

[@PainFreeYou]

He got outside once and I didn't get him back in till I just sat down and let him come to me. Chasing didn't work at all. LOL

[@AvaGreenFeather]

@@PainFreeYou Finn is awesome! 🐈‍⬛❤️😄

[@ramanamadduri6669]

Once again a *grate advice* we are very much greatful to you Dan Ji! 👍👍

[@Inge508]

Wishing you a good calm relaxing day sir Ramana!🌻☀️☀️☀️🌷🌷🌷

[@ramanamadduri6669]

@@Inge508 Thank you soooooo much mam🥰

[@PainFreeYou]

My pleasure Ramana.

[@paulamorphett9131]

Love the chasing the cat 🐱 analogy . I have this issue when getting the cat basket out to take my cat to have her yearly booster 😂 . Brilliant video Dan thankyou ❤😊🤗

[@Inge508]

My cats used to run away very far too when they knew it was time to visit the veterinary.. nowadays just birds here and some nice neighbors cats and dogs😀

[@Hinz2005]

We feed our cat his favorite gravy snack in his travel kennel. Year round! He goes right in there 365 days a year for a snack. So, it is much less stressful for when we need to take him to the vet.

[@Inge508]

@@Hinz2005that’s a great trick! Have a lovely day Hinz!☀️🌷🌷🌷

[@Hinz2005]

@@Inge508 Same to you lovely Inge!!

[@paulamorphett9131]

@@Inge508 😂 there gery cleaver cats 😺❤️

[@lennekevanrossum8422]

Hi Dan I say always to myself if I can't sleep I rest no problem I had a beautiful slow walk in the dunes with Daniel and Martin so nice with this weather sun out and no wind yippee. I am taking it easy big flare up am calm and not freaking out know what to do slow down feel my emotions and self kindness which makes me going to lay down now love you Dan and everyone else a big hug and smile from me see you all tomorrow 😘😘😘

[@Inge508]

Have a good rest Lenneke! Sending you a healing hug ❤️‍🩹

[@lennekevanrossum8422]

@@Inge508 thank you my friend love you ❤️❤️❤️

[@1STBUCKLEY]

Glad you got to walk and no freaking out. You are going forward 👏👏

[@lennekevanrossum8422]

@@1STBUCKLEY thank you Patricia ❤️❤️❤️

[@AvaGreenFeather]

❤❤❤❤

[@kathleenhannmann760]

Great one Dan I think I'm going to get rid of my Fitbit, I keep track of my sleep to much.

[@lennekevanrossum8422]

Good plan just think you will rest and don't worry love ❤️

[@PainFreeYou]

Yeah, all sleep trackers do is show that we aren't sleeping sound enough or long enough.

[@1STBUCKLEY]

Slept really well until I had kids haha all grown up now. blessed if I get 4 hours in a row! Sunday evening I literally had half an hour sleep! I always pay 48 hours later when fatigue sets in 🙄. Today my GP confirmed that I have osteoporosis, he started saying whereabouts and I told him I didn't need to know, it would just feed my brain. I don't want to take the meds, and he's agreed to shelf the scan results for two years and let me try with my diet, exercise, putting on weight & obviously I'll do my research into what I can do it actually help myself naturally. However an hour later I'm out and I'm getting pains in my arms, I know its got to be TMS because it wasn't there when I woke up this morning. Sigh. Feeling like I'm taking two steps forward three steps back these last couple of days. I know that I can get there so onward I go.

[@lennekevanrossum8422]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@PainFreeYou]

Try not to tell yourself that story. Many lead quite normal lives with osteoporosis.

[@ab78001]

Osteoporosis is totally reversible. The body is a miraculous self-healing machine.

[@dorothybeveridge3133]

Morning. I don’t have a problem with getting to sleep but in the mornings I just start to feel anxious .then it goes on all day . 🥵

[@dorothybeveridge3133]

I can’t wait until bedtime. It’s mornings I have the problem with.

[@Hinz2005]

Hi Dorothy. Morning anxiety has been an issue for me since getting out of chronic pain. I very much understand! It is not entirely gone, but has improved sooooo much. Any time you hear Dan say “pain” or “symptoms”, you can replace it with “anxiety”. All of the methods apply! It will get better!

[@nancyrussell6598]

@@dorothybeveridge3133 THAT IS ALSO MY EXPERIENCE. THE WORST PART OF THE DAY IS THE MORNING. IS IT CONDITIONED THINKING, CORTISOL?

[@lennekevanrossum8422]

Dan made a video about morning anxiety maybe good to watch it love ❤️😘

[@PainFreeYou]

This video on morning anxiety may help. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eniZiYlteJujiNU

[@jerrylee8540]

love all your videos, by the way do you have any videos about patience - like how develop this super power.

[@PainFreeYou]

Yes I do! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYSXpGiNq994rpo

[@thedude8526]

Your mind likes to do the opposite of what you want it to. I'm trying to use that technique on panic attacks. I try to bring them on and ironically, they don't come.

[@PainFreeYou]

Yes, the "bring it on" technique is effective because it shows the brain "I am not afraid".

[@pramodsharma7284]

My panicked attack start from insomnia . After 2 night I had a panic attacks. Now I don't try to follow sleep. And now I sleep like before

[@PainFreeYou]

Excellent.

[@Truerealism747]

No problem with sleep my only relief never have always had fatigue from birth I slept 23 hrs a day then.found out related to Asperger's hypomobility.byt weather ime in stage 4 doubt it always wake up fatigue mostly

[@lennekevanrossum8422]

❤️😘

[@PainFreeYou]

Interesting, if this is something you'd like to discuss, bring it up in the group.

[@Truerealism747]

@@PainFreeYou you mean your inline group

[@PainFreeYou]

@@Truerealism747 I did mean the group coaching. I have a Tom in the group and for some reason I thought that was you. If you'd like to share more with you about this always tired, stage 4, and what you shared, you can tell me what's going on to see if I have any input for you. www.painfreeyou.com/contact

[@Truerealism747]

@@PainFreeYou thankyou Dan understand by all.what I've read etc it's due to the hypomobility I was born that way and ime pritty sure I have Asperger's that is why ime prone to TMS.i had as a child painfull hair which I've found again is part central processing disorder which is TMS I've found it out myself for the main I think you will find alot have Asperger's or ADHD who have continued TMS and the legend fybromyalgia it's the subconscious mind protecting us.the brain is less plastic and takes longer to get the message I had OCD from 2 as.mother grandmother but grandad managed to get away from it by basically living so relaxed life and his house which we still live had no electronic devices etc and he used horse and cart as driving to stressful I no now why by what he told me I no mines my brain I have extremely perfectionist memory in detail to.for what I thought everyone had did no it's Asperger's trait.

[@dr.amitabhamukherjee3601]

And what about when the pain itself won't let you sleep? :)