Former Insomniac by End Insomnia

You've probably envied someone who can sleep easily:

They just hit the pillow, let their thoughts drift, and they're asleep.

But if you're struggling with being unable to sleep, it's a different story.

Nights can make you more anxious and worried, making it tough to relax and wait for sleep.

You might start stressing about not being able to sleep, which makes things worse.

So, we will talk about three ways to deal with being awake at night.

These ideas are all about helping you switch from feeling anxious to feeling more relaxed, and they make it easier for your body to get into sleep mode.

Instead of trying to force sleep, these tips are about being okay with being awake.

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The 7 Proven Steps I Used to Beat Insomnia After 5 Years of Hell—Without Pills, CBT-i, or Useless Sleep Hacks

Although there is no guarantee that a wind down will help you sleep on any individual night, maintaining a wind-down routine over time helps set the stage for more easeful entry into sleep.

It's like easing off the gas pedal after a busy day so you can coast smoothly into sleep.

Grab something you love doing just for fun in that hour before you hit the sheets.

It could be reading, jamming to some tunes, or just zoning out to your favorite show.

Don’t do this wind down with the strict intention of it helping you sleep; do it because you actually enjoy it and find it relaxing.

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The 7 Proven Steps I Used to Beat Insomnia After 5 Years of Hell—Without Pills, CBT-i, or Useless Sleep Hacks

Have you ever tried really hard to fall asleep and just ended up tossing and turning?

I get it; we've all been there.

Trying to force sleep is like holding onto a handful of sand – the harder you squeeze, the less you have.

It's a tricky thing, sleep.

You can't just grab it by the collar and drag it into bed.

So, why does sleep seem "hard"?

Here's the kicker:

The more you chase it, the further it runs away.

Remember the Sleep-Starting Force?

Your body's natural rhythm and a built-in need for sleep.

But sometimes, an equally strong force pushes back, keeping you wide awake.

The Sleep-Stopping Force.

This includes all the usual suspects: worry, stress, and your brain just not wanting to switch off.

Here's how to tip the scales in favor of sleep.

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The 7 Proven Steps I Used to Beat Insomnia After 5 Years of Hell—Without Pills, CBT-i, or Useless Sleep Hacks

Only two forces control your sleep.

The sleep-starting force and the sleep-stopping force.

Understanding these will be your first step towards peaceful nights.

The Dynamics of Sleep

Imagine sleep as a gentle river guided by two natural forces in your body.

These aren't complex scientific concepts but rather simple, everyday workings of your body that manage your sleep.

1. The Sleep-Starting Force: Your Body's Natural Sleep Conductor

The sleep-starting force is your body's innate mechanism to bring on sleep.

It's like a sleep maestro, conducting two crucial biological systems: your sleep drive and circadian rhythm.

2. The Sleep-Stopping Force: The Barrier to Blissful Rest

Now, what happens when sleep seems like a distant dream?

This is where the sleep-stopping force comes into play.

• Anxiety and Hyperarousal: The Unwanted Guests at Night

Anxiety and hyperarousal are like uninvited guests that keep you tossing and turning.

In response to stress, your brain triggers a survival mechanism: the fight-or-flight response.

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Looking to end insomnia for good in 8 weeks? Get my FREE cheat sheet:

The 7 Proven Steps I Used to Beat Insomnia After 5 Years of Hell—Without Pills, CBT-i, or Useless Sleep Hacks

Insomnia, at its core, is rooted in anxiety.

It's not a physical condition like heart disease or cancer but rather a psychological one.

Recognizing insomnia's psychological basis opens the door to overcoming it through a psychological transformation.

Sleep anxiety and hyperarousal contribute to ongoing insomnia.

They lead to "Unhelpfuls" like:

1. Unhelpful perceptions
2. Unhelpful reactions
3. Unhelpful behaviors

These factors amplify your sleep issues.

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The 7 Proven Steps I Used to Beat Insomnia After 5 Years of Hell—Without Pills, CBT-i, or Useless Sleep Hacks

People with insomnia work very hard to not be people with insomnia. 

By the time someone comes across the End Insomnia System, they generally feel they have tried everything.

People with insomnia are exhausted—but they certainly aren’t lazy. The time, effort, and money they have spent are often astonishing.

Today, I want to dive deeper into the science of sleep and the various sleep stages so you understand how sleep works.

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The 7 Proven Steps I Used to Beat Insomnia After 5 Years of Hell—Without Pills, CBT-i, or Useless Sleep Hacks

Today, I wanted to address common concerns people have when following the End Insomnia System, the system I and 100s of others have used to recover from insomnia. 

But first…

The system isn’t for you if you are looking for a “quick fix” to insomnia or if you need sleep apnea treatment.

Now let’s talk about some reasons you might think the system is not for you—when, in fact, it really might be.

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Looking to end insomnia for good in 8 weeks? Get my FREE cheat sheet:

The 7 Proven Steps I Used to Beat Insomnia After 5 Years of Hell—Without Pills, CBT-i, or Useless Sleep Hacks

When we have insomnia, we often try many things to sleep better, spending time, energy, and money on different quick fixes and methods we hear should work. 

When these methods don't work, it can make us feel hopeless, thinking we might never get rid of insomnia. 

We might then try even harder to sleep, but this only makes us worry more about our insomnia.

Some advice on the internet about how to sleep better (yes, I am looking at you, sleep hygiene) can make things worse for people with ongoing insomnia. 

Advice like having the perfect bedroom, stopping drinks hours before bed, no alcohol, or avoiding blue light doesn't address the main problem (sleep anxiety), and it can be confusing and disappointing when it doesn't help us sleep better.

Sometimes, we think that what we do to try to sleep will make us sleep. 

But that's not true. 

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Looking to end insomnia for good in 8 weeks? Get my FREE cheat sheet:

The 7 Proven Steps I Used to Beat Insomnia After 5 Years of Hell—Without Pills, CBT-i, or Useless Sleep Hacks

Today, we will discuss things people do before bedtime to “help” them sleep.

You might have tried different activities to relax before bed to fall asleep easier.

These activities could be taking a bath or shower at a certain time, drinking herbal tea, smelling lavender oil, or using relaxation techniques to calm down.

But if you are worried about not being able to sleep well, these activities won't solve the core of the problem, which is sleep anxiety or the fear of sleeplessness.

Instead, they might make you think too much and doubt your ability to sleep without doing these special rituals.

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The 7 Proven Steps I Used to Beat Insomnia After 5 Years of Hell—Without Pills, CBT-i, or Useless Sleep Hacks

When I had insomnia, I used to go to bed early, sleep in late to try to catch up, and also take long naps during the day. 

I also used to go to bed at a different time each night and wake up whenever I “felt like it”.

While these “strategies” offer limited short-term relief, they all interfered with my body’s biological sleep drive and natural circadian rhythm.

They ended up sabotaging my potential to sleep easily at night. 

Another way I was trying to take control of my sleep was through medications, alcohol, or CBD, hoping they would get me back on track.

It’s tempting to look for an easy out through substances like cannabis, alcohol, or prescriptions when you’re desperate to calm your nerves and get to sleep. 

However, these are less than ideal for several reasons. 

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Looking to end insomnia for good in 8 weeks? Get my FREE cheat sheet:

The 7 Proven Steps I Used to Beat Insomnia After 5 Years of Hell—Without Pills, CBT-i, or Useless Sleep Hacks