Rest for the Insomniac
When you lay down to bed at night, do you find sleep elusive? Do you toss and turn, thinking about everything that has happened that day, or the things you have to do the next? Do you check the clock every now and then, saying to yourself ‘I’ll never be able to get to sleep’? Believe it or not, over ten million Americans report sleep issues to their doctor per year.
Contemplate this as you lay in bed and assume a position that is comfortable for you.
Refrain from concentrating; let your mind go soft.
Imagine yourself in tune with the awareness of breathing in your body.
Nothing more.
One moment.
Then the next. Breathe in. Then breathe out.
Just feel your life unfold in this moment.
Be present here and now.
In periods of stress, the body relaxes, but the mind continues to run – jumping from subject to subject, worrying, fretting.
Insomnia can be irritating, but there is hope for the frequent insomniac.
It has been repeatedly demonstrated that by adopting a few habits and practicing proper sleep hygiene, you will find that your sleep issues will dissolve.
As you take in deep breaths, let go of your thoughts.
Let go of stress.
Let go, relax, and simply be.
You need not do anything.
The first order of business is to take account of how long you’ve been having sleep problems.
Do you usually fall asleep with ease, with only a night or two of insomnia every now and then?
Or do have you been experiencing insomnia for a month or longer?
If the latter is the case, your first order of business is to consult your physician; insomnia may be a symptom of an underlying (and more serious) medical condition.
This is not meant to create alarm. In many cases, insomnia is a standalone issue without any underlying medical problem.
A standalone case of insomnia can be treated with ease, utilizing the relaxation and imagery skills you’ll soon be learning.
The effects may not be immediate; you may have to experiment with them during periods of insomnia to find out what works for you.
However, once mastered, these skills are safe, natural, and effective means of defeating insomnia.
For now, just breathe in deeply.
Release the breath slowly.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Meditation is one effective means of helping the mind to let go.
Meditation is a mental skill that can be used to release the activities of the day, rather than replay them on an endless loop as you’re trying to fall asleep.
Even on the nights when you are experiencing insomnia, you can still use meditation to silence your mind and relax the body.
Sleep is better than being awake; however, when you cannot sleep, being relaxed and calm is better than being stressed and anxious.
As you breathe slowly, move this thought of breath forward. Caress any other thoughts away. Return to the place where there is complete mindfulness and awareness alighting, softly and tenderly, on your breathing.
