The Sleepless Nights That Changed My Life
A Descent into Insomnia
On September 1, 2012, my body decided to stop sleeping. No warning, no explanation. I went to bed exhausted, only to lie awake all night, waiting for a rest that never came. The next day, I struggled through unpacking, visiting with family, and hiking, but that evening, panic set in. What if I never slept again? Would I lose my mind?
The Quest for Sleep
Over the next few months, I tried everything to get some shut-eye. I spent money on solutions, from meditation apps to yoga passes, sleeping pills to hypnotherapy. Some worked temporarily, but most left me feeling hopeless and desperate. I even tried marijuana, but it only brought paranoia and anxiety.
The Turning Point
It wasn’t until I sought cognitive therapy that things started to change. My therapist helped me confront my fears and question why sleep mattered so much. She reminded me that people function remarkably on limited sleep, and that I could too. I started journaling, writing out my worst-case scenarios and slowly letting go of my desire to sleep.
The Power of Perspective
One night, I wrote about the life I wanted to have – a family, a home, good meals, and love. It was a comfort to articulate it and feel that it could be mine. My therapist taught me to abandon the desire to sleep and focus on living. And it worked. By February 2013, I was sleeping through most of the night, naturally and deeply.
The Simple Solution
In hindsight, I realize that the minute I stopped chasing sleep, it came for me. I learned to welcome the night as a time to read and grow. Sleeplessness became an advantage, allowing me to burn through chapters of books and grow my spirit. I made friends with the enemy, and it worked.
A Lesson Learned
If you’re struggling with insomnia, I recommend skipping the expensive solutions and going straight to cognitive therapy. Save yourself some bucks and remember: you don’t need to chase the night. Sometimes, all it takes is a change in perspective to find peace and sleep.
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