Posted by kikibikini on December 06, 2008 at 20:50:58:

In Reply to: Re: recovered insomniacs pls help me!! posted by i_will_sleep_again on November 26, 2008 at 20:19:58:

Don't worry. I too was in the same place as you. I have never posted on this site until now...partly due to only recently having had insomnia...but I wanted to help others. Having insomnia was so traumatizing to me, so as a result I had anxiety and fear about it. I have been through what everyone has been through on this site. I developed depression from it, and went through hell and back. I want to let you know that you WILL get over it. The most important part for me was learning why I had it (all mental) and changing my perceptions about sleep. It's true, you cannot force yourself to sleep..its something that happens, not something you do. And the more you give into it...the worse it gets. DO not let it consume you, do not give it power. That's what it wants (sorry if i sound crazy referring to it as "IT"), but tell yourself that you won't let it control your life. Once you give it too much power, that's like fuel to the fire. I'm sure that CBT will definitely help you. You will learn that it's the quality of sleep you need, not quantity...and so many people are able to function off of 3-4 hours of sleep. Believe me, I am used to functioning off little sleep already. Once you tell yourself you dont care...sleep will come back. I am still going through ups and downs, and sometimes you will think you are back at square one. But I've learned that it takes time, it wont just go away one night. However, you have the strength to overcome it, trust me. I refused to let it control my life and become a part of me. I have only had this for about two months. My first episode was back in july for two weeks. I have never had sleep problems, in fact i would sleep straight through a movie in the theatre...i could sleep whenever and wherever and I was always getting 8 hours of good sleep. So naturally it scared the hell outta me. Somehow I just got over it that time (your brain becomes tired of dealing with something so silly, trust me). The next episode came in october. That was worse..I developed the fear and depression. So right now I am recovering. I refuse to let this go on for years. And i know it won't. I have taken Xanax and Lunesta and tried all the herbs. But ultimately, it is your mind. Please think positive and you will overcome. For others who have been dealing with this for years, I cannot imagine and I feel for you. Even though its only been a few months for me, it has been just as traumatizing. The mind is so strange I tell you.
Wishing you strength,
KT.

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