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Posted by Cured on June 07, 1999 at 14:55:25:In Reply to: Re: My Story: How I was cured of insomnia without drugs posted by Martin Green on June 07, 1999 at 13:22:56:
My sleeping problems started with anxiety about sleep. My anxiety then caused me to try unnaturally hard to sleep thereby creating poor sleeping habits and more anxiety. I lost confidence that I could sleep normally. By developing good sleeping habits I eventually developed confidence that I would get adequate sleep. This confidence grew and grew until I was no longer anxious about sleep. The more confident I became that my body could fall asleep on its own, the less anxiety and the better the sleep. This confidence may take some time, but once you get it back you won't have anxiety about sleep. Once you are confident you can sleep, you merely need to continue your good sleep habits.
The two can work together to induce sleep (relaxation and good sleep habits) or they can work together to prevent sleep (anxiety and poor sleep habits). I still cannot just choose when I want to sleep. In other words, I cannot will myself to sleep. Unless my body feels sleepy, I will not be able to fall asleep. All I can control is the conditions that lend themselves to succumbing to sleep. Therefore, I suggest the following:
-Commit yourself to good sleep habits and trust that your body (sleep cycle) will eventually “right itself” (most important).
-Don't think about closing your eyes as some milestone to achieving sleep; just close them when you feel like it.
-Try taking a hot shower or bath approximately an hour before your projected bedtime (to relax your body).
-Try using relaxation techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation approximately an hour before bedtime.
-Try reading for pleasure approximately an hour before bedtime (to make your eyes feel tired and to take your mind off of sleeping)
-Don’t worry if you can’t sleep when you wanted to, but be disciplined not to nap, sleep in, or go to bed early because you will throw off the sleep cycle you are trying to establish.
-Take the lead from your body; you have to learn to trust your body; your body falls to sleep; stop assuming your mind controls sleep; an active mind merely prevents sleep.
-Try to stopping thinking about sleep; let your body sleep when it wants!Good Luck!
- Re: My Story: How I was cured of insomnia without drugs Jon Duffy 6/26/99 (2)
- Re: My Story: How I was cured of insomnia without drugs Deb 7/03/99 (0)
- Re: My Story: How I was cured of insomnia without drugs Denise 6/26/99 (0)
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