My Sleep Test
Tired of being tired
For years I have dealt with insomnia. Some of it seemed "normal" -- anxiety over buying my first house, restlessness before an early flight, worried about a meeting the next day.
Those temporary and situational bouts of sleeplessness were manageable and passed.
But over the years, the occasional night of sleeplessness worsened to long stretches of insomnia. Months on end of sleeping for what seemed like only a few hours a night, feeling exhausted and physically stressed.
I've tried everything under the sun. Tinctures, herbs, OTC sleeping aids, pharmaceutical drugs, natural remedies, eating certain things, not eating other things, all kinds of body practices...and some of it worked for a while, but not consistently.
I felt totally helpless and hopeless upon going to bed -- will this be a good night's sleep or not? The question itself creates an anxiety loop that makes sleep less and less likely.
Going to the science
I started hearing about other ways to work with insomnia -- ways that could be as effective as prescription drugs. By addressing the mental aspect, one could repattern the brain to avoid those potholes of sleeplessness. I began working with some of these techniques, as well as being more accountable for my "sleep hygiene." And miraculously, I started sleeping.
This did not happen overnight (no pun intended) -- it took patience, discipline and effort.
But OH was it worth it. There is NOTHING like getting a good night's sleep, especially consistently!
Putting my new techniques to the test
Travel is another time when sleep can be disrupted. This past weekend I had a training in Berkeley. I was about to put my newfound sleep to the test.
I packed my normal nighttime routine essentials... AND an ambien just in case.
I had three nights to experiment with sleeping well away from home.
IT WORKED
I slept!! If you've suffered from insomnia, you know that this is a big deal!
Especially because I was at a training and I wanted to be fresh and alert for learning.
Part of the success is that I've made new patterns around sleep and my brain is more accustomed to nighttime + bed = sleep. The other success was that the techniques were powerful enough to work outside of the comforts of home.
All the effort and inconvenience of these past months paid off.
Are you tired of insomnia?
If you've suffered from sleeplessness and want some support, tools and resources, join me this coming Sunday for:
Sunday, March 11, 1-3:30 pm
We will cover:
sleep preparation
physical practices that can calm the nervous system
mental/cognitive tools to get and stay asleep
natural aids that help support a sleepy state
and more
If you plan to sign up, please do so early -- I have homework for you this week that will be part of the workshop.
Register HERE. I'll get back to you within 24 hours with your homework and additional information.
Part of changing the patterns of insomnia is not making a big deal about going to bed. This is hard to do when it's been a stressful thing for a long time.
Getting restful, restoring sleep changes EVERYTHING. Your body, your nervous system, your work, your relationships will all thank you!
Let me know if you have questions. And if you have friends who could benefit from this workshop, please pass this along.
Michelle
200 Hr Yoga Teacher Training
If you are looking for a space to question and move and grow, this is a beautiful way to do it.
Or contact me to chat. That's what I'm here for.
Michelle Marlahan
Where Self Care becomes Soul Care
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