Who likes insomnia? I mean, really… it’s a silly question. Being awake at night when you want to be asleep because you… need the sleep, you’ve got to be at the top of your game, you’re already exhausted. It is so Frustrating!

A March 2014 article by sleepeducation.org listed these insomnia stats:

• 30 to 35% have brief symptoms of insomnia
• 15 to 20% have a short-term insomnia disorder, which lasts less than 3 months.
• 10% have a chronic insomnia disorder, which occurs at least 3 times per week for at least 3 months.

So you’re not alone, not that this helps much when you’re tossing, turning or staring at the ceiling in the middle of the night… This says a lot about our culture and how we handle our lives. We have so much stress and tension, so much armoring to protect us from real or perceived threats.

Deep within this insomnia, is a message from your mind, from your life that things aren’t the way they’re supposed to be. You see, we have a remarkable system that accommodates for stresses and helps us regain balance. However, when there is an overwhelming accumulation of stresses (pain, beliefs, decisions, judgments…) a lot get stuffed in our unconscious where they continue to work on us 24/7. Some people seem immune to the effects of stress and others seem quite sensitive to it.

I have found unconscious stresses are the triggers for sleeplessness and by working with the triggers, beliefs, and especially judgments, and bringing them to my conscious mind through a variety of tools I start to release stress from many areas of my life and my sleeplessness begins to go away. Some of these tools include journaling, meditation, asking questions, bringing compassion, curiosity and willingness to what I learn about myself, etc. Search the Internet for “tools for insomnia” or any other specific search you want to do and you’ll find pages upon pages of resources.

While I’ve had notable improvements overall, I still face periods (days into weeks) where I’m in a restless, low sleep period. Gradually, I’ve been making peace with my insomnia. I stopped an over the counter sleep med that I was on for 2 solid years! I have some good nights and rough nights… and yet, here I am, functioning.

I’ve experienced the gift of making choices to reduce the underlying stressful beliefs and unconscious choices that have led to chronic insomnia and I find a sense of freedom.

I have a deep sense of trust that continuing this inner journey will bring about lasting relief and a restoration of my original energy levels and overall well-being. And I’m feeling the subtle improvements now… In the long run, insomnia evolved into my greatest teacher for living a life with greater ease and allowing myself to flow with life rather than fear, judge and resist it.

What are your thoughts and experiences with insomnia? What has worked for you? What have you learned about yourself? Please share your thoughts or experiences in the comments section below. Thank you.