I’ve known for some time that stress, worry, and anxiety play a major part in our ability to get the rest we need. In fact, many of the sleep experts I’ve talked with say that these three “devils” are the biggest culprits behind insomnia.

My own experience has shown me that the way I think about sleep is as important as anything else I do. That’s why I decided to learn more about sleep and insomnia, so I could develop strategies for getting better sleep – and along the way, I gained competence. I found tools to help me feel that I was not a helpless victim of that dreaded “insomnia.”

What happens when we are afraid? Our stress hormones keep pumping, and cortisol streams through our bodies and minds, damaging our ability to calm down and think clearly. (See my post on “Are you a Salmon, Hamster or Cat” to explore this process more fully.)

I have been focusing on stress, worry and anxiety as the culprits. Then this morning I got an email about FEAR, and that’s when my aha happened. Of course – fear is the source of our stress, worry, anxiety. Plain old FEAR.

What happens with fear? Statistics show that many people have a fear of speaking in public. They feel like they are going to have a heart attack. They get the shakes. They throw up. They sweat. They can’t think. They can’t even remember their name, much less what they were going to speak about.

Now let’s look at sleep. If you have a fear of not sleeping, what happens? You begin to worry and feel anxious as night falls. Will this be another bad night? You approach your bed with trepidation. You anxiously lay your head down on the pillow. Oh no, not another bad night, you think to yourself. What happens? You got it, another bad night.

How do people overcome their fear of public speaking? They learn tricks, they learn techniques, they get support. Same applies to sleeping. Bet you know more about how to write a good speech, or how to paint a room, or how to plant a garden than you know about how sleep works.  Am I right?

So – let’s begin stripping away the mystery of sleep. Let’s pull back the curtain on the “scary monster” of insomnia. We are afraid of what we don’t understand, what we feel is beyond our control. Easy enough to solve, when you think about it. As Winnie the Pooh (one of my favorite philosophers) says: “Before beginning a Hunt, it is wise to ask someone what you are looking for before you begin looking for it.”

Here’s the key: Stop looking for a quick fix for something you don’t understand. Knowledge comes first, then understanding. After that, you will see clearly that you have been in charge all along.

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You too can master the Art of Sleeping. Being a Confident Sleeper means you have the knowledge, understanding, and tools to get the sleep you need, no matter what the circumstances. To learn more, please click here.