Hello.
Hugs.
From your description, it is clear that chronic insomnia is causing you a great deal of distress.
Let's go through your story together.
Ten years ago, you started suffering from insomnia for reasons that are now unclear.
2. Anxiety has caused the insomnia to persist for a year and a half.
3. You now associate certain things with insomnia, as if your mind actively wants to suffer from it.
4. You are distressed by this, and mental suggestion is not an effective method.
5. You will solve the problem of insomnia.
From your description, it is clear that insomnia has become a significant issue affecting your mood and state. You are investing a great deal of energy and time into it, yet you are unable to find a solution.
You need to get rid of this pain.
I have observed that, in addition to the insomnia caused by unimportant factors you initially mentioned, frequent insomnia is frequently caused by anxiety.
You also mentioned being afraid of having children in the future and waking them up, which prevents you from sleeping.
You need to stop worrying about having children so early. Having children is something for the future.
You have a lot of unease, fear, worry, and fear in your heart.
These emotions make you worry about falling asleep, and they cause you to lose control and order in your life. As a result, you simply dare not sleep.
Let's be clear: we are suffering from insomnia.
The reality is that we have a lot of fear and anxiety inside, which prevents the brain from relaxing.
Good sleep only happens when you are very relaxed.
If the brain is very nervous and worried about falling asleep, something irreversible will happen. Even if you are extremely tired, the brain will not dare to sleep peacefully.
I have something to share.
1. Write down on paper all the things you are worried and afraid of. Transform this fear into intuitive words.
2. You determine the order of importance for the things that frighten you. The events that actually occurred have a significant impact on you.
Some things are unimportant.
3. We ask ourselves, is there really nothing we can do about these terrible things we feel are happening? The answer is no. There is always something we can do.
4. For each feared event, consider the part you can do. If there really is nothing you can do, then tell yourself: I can do nothing.
I may worry to death, but I know there is nothing I can do about it.
5. If I worry and fear, then I am being useful. I worry desperately, every moment of the day. But if my worrying does not help to solve things, and there is nothing else I can do, then I accept that.
6. Accept yourself. Sometimes there are things you can't do. There's nothing you can do about it.
7. Take a moment to acknowledge this feeling of powerlessness. Notice where it is in your body and how it feels.
8. Accept that there are things in life that you cannot do anything about. But there are also things that you can and should face and deal with.
Accept what you cannot change and work on the things you can.
The key point is this:
We have insomnia because we focus too much attention and energy on the mind and thoughts, neglecting the body and actions.
You need to get more exercise during the day. When your body is tired, your mind can relax and sleep deeply, no matter how much you're struggling.
This is the body's protective mechanism.
Eat sensibly. Don't eat too late or too much at dinner. This will burden the stomach and intestines and excite the mind.
Get close to nature. Go for a walk in the park, smell the flowers, listen to the birdsong, and shift your attention from the inside to the outside world, calming the thoughts that are rushing around inside.
Learning improves and self-improvement is enhanced. When we are absorbed in a book or a task, time passes quickly.
It will help you calm down and stop worrying.
Help others. Show gratitude to those who help you, even if it's just giving someone an apple or a cup of milk tea.
When we feel supported by others and not alone, and when we feel fully connected to others, we feel calm inside.
We must understand that the problem is not insomnia.
Instead, we see the part of us that is afraid, worried, and restless and dares not fall asleep. We can let this part of us return to a state of peace, joy, fullness, compassion, and gratitude.
When your mind is relaxed and your body is tired, sleep will happen.
Good sleep doesn't happen immediately. If it doesn't, that's fine.
We don't have to be like that.
I only slept three hours last night, so I'm going to sleep for four hours today.
Tonight, I will not panic if I start to lose sleep again. I know that I just need to sleep a little longer than last night.
Command your mind and things will happen more easily.
Electronic bracelets can detect the quality of your sleep. They measure total sleep time, deep sleep time, and light sleep time.
Use these tools to assess your sleep more objectively and make better adjustments.
Take a warm shower before going to sleep. Let your skin relax and feel warm and at ease.
Lie on your back in bed and relax every part of your body.
Listen to your own breathing.
Slowly lengthen your breath, focus on the sensations in your body, and feel at ease, warm, and calm. Breathe out and in regularly.
Let the body run freely. You are the spectator.
Cover yourself with a soft, warm quilt.
Close your eyes and imagine that you are snuggled under a warm quilt, a little baby being held tenderly in your mother's arms. You are safe, relaxed, and comfortable. You are asleep.
In short, you fall asleep by allowing inner peace and joy, by making your skin feel warm and at ease, and by filling your mind with love and serenity.
Your mind is constantly thinking about anxious things, and you are pursuing anxiety. This is a fact. What you pursue is what you will get.
We do the opposite. We do everything that makes us feel calm, happy, warm, secure, and relaxed.
A good night's sleep is the result of this state.
We must pursue this state.
I am confident that my answer will be of some help to you.
Comments
I understand how deeply troubling and persistent your sleeprelated anxieties can be. It's important to address both the physical and psychological aspects of insomnia. Have you considered speaking with a therapist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia? This approach can help reframe those negative thought patterns and associations.
It sounds like you've been through a lot with your insomnia, and it's completely understandable that you're feeling this way. Sometimes creating a very structured bedtime routine can help signal to your body that it's time to wind down. Also, mindfulness or relaxation exercises before bed might ease some of the anxiety.
I can see how challenging it must be to have these automatic sleeprelated thoughts. Engaging in activities that you find calming and enjoyable during the day could promote better sleep at night. Additionally, keeping a journal to express your worries might prevent them from surfacing when you're trying to rest.
Your experience with insomnia sounds really tough. Perhaps gradually exposing yourself to the scenarios you fear, like practicing sleeping in different environments or setting up a morning routine with soft alarms, can help reduce the anxiety linked to potential disruptions. Talking to others who share similar experiences might also provide comfort and practical tips.