Hello CantSleepers,

Barnaby here, and unfortunately I must report a temporary relapse back into the symptoms of insomnia. For those of you new to my story, I’ve been posting on here for quite some time about my travails with chronic insomnia. Many of the usual causes of insomnia including clinical depression and sleep apnea have been ruled out in my case, and I tried a wide variety of sleep treatments. Recently, hypnotherapy for insomnia was proving to be quite helpful. I went for a stretch of around two weeks without experiencing symptoms of insomnia, but the past few nights I was not so lucky. I reverted back to my dreaded tossing and turning throughout the night, and I have become quite tired at work during the day.

For those of you who are still unaware, the most common symptoms of insomnia include:

- Frequent waking up in the middle of the night

- Taking more than an hour to fall asleep

- Waking up long before necessary in the morning

- Feelings of anxiety and a short temper during the day

- Tiredness even after thinking you slept through the night

Independently, not every symptom of insomnia indicates that insomnia is actually present. Everyone occasionally has trouble falling asleep, and most people are at least occasionally tired during the day. However, when these symptoms of insomnia occur on a frequent basis, then insomnia might prove to be the correct diagnosis. Unfortunately, diagnosing insomnia is far easier than treating it. In my case, I have been through a plethora of suggested cures — none to any avail. Hypnotherapy for insomnia had begun to help, but the jury is still out on whether my insomnia is gone for good. I’ll update everyone again soon,

Barnaby

Hi CantSleep,

It’s Barnaby checking in with an update on my progress treating my sleeping disorder with hypnotherapy. I’ve previously recounted here at CantSleep my sleep issues going back several months now. I went through all sorts of tests, and no one was able to pinpoint the exact cause of my sleeping disorder. I experienced occasional periods of relief, but inevitably I found myself once again tossing and turning the night away. After quite a few unsuccessful treatments, a kind reader of CantSleep suggested that I try hypnotherapy to address my sleeping disorder. I just had my third session with my therapist Sharon, and I actually think it is beginning to work. Last night, I actually fell asleep on the sofa while watching a movie with my wife — not a strong testament to Letters To Juliet! A movie so bad it can put an insomniac to sleep. Well, I shouldn’t be too harsh — the film wasn’t meant for those of my gender.

So my wife was amazed to see me actually falling asleep that easily, and when she eventually woke me to move to our bed I then fell asleep in rapid order again. She really thinks it is the hypnotherapy, and I am beginning to think (hope) that she is right. I’ve increased my sessions with Sharon (my therapist) to several times a week, and I am really getting hopeful that this treatment proves to be the magic bullet for my sleeping disorder. Sharon warned that it might be a “placebo effect” — but I do not care, just so long as it is working! I’ll keep everyone updated.

Barnaby

Just got an email today from Rachel Davis, of Radiology Degree. She’s written a great article about the wonderful and weird things people do in their sleep, which we’re happy to link to here. Click through and enjoy!

Just so you know we’re not all facts and opinions. Here’s a hilarious sleep-related cartoon I came across today. Enjoy!