When it seems that everyone else is fast asleep, we lie awake.
Nighttime can be lonely for those who cannot sleep. Demons tend to come in the dark because of the quiet during the night.
I have always been a worrier and never a warrior. I picked it up from my mother, she had a big heart and always worried about everything.
At the age of 16 I hardly slept, barely getting enough sleep to get by. Alcohol and substance abuse to try and get to sleep.
Medication is never the solution; it only adds to the unwanted cycle of worry and despair.
Fast forward 30 years, and, once again, sleep evaded me as I dove into depression. Self-medication was the automatic default.
Lying awake at nighttime is desperately lonely, for you are the only one who is suffering. Yet, there are many others who struggle to sleep; you are not as alone as you think.
Fast forward to the present. Sleep still evades me on occasion, particularly when hit by a setback.
Having studied sleep and trialed many methods of getting to sleep, we have compiled a document on how to achieve a better night's sleep. It is yours free of charge, available on our website.
For me, the number one way of dealing with a sleepless night is to accept it, accept that I will have a sleepless night.
Acceptance brings an anchor. The night will be a roller-coaster of high anxiety and, on occasion, calmness. And that is where I find sanctuary.
Remember this - if you are struggling with sleep, know you will get through the night. It is just your thoughts keeping you awake, and those thoughts cannot hurt us unless we allow them to; they are ours to control.
Become a warrior and work through your thoughts until you find calm.
The sun will come up, and you can now work on what's actually worrying you, not what you thought was worrying you.
Let’s talk!
Getting Through The Night!