Insomnia

[Sara Klein Ridgley, Ph.D.]

This is a known therapy form called Paradoxical Therapy. It works
especially well in insomnia, where the insomniac is asked to do the exact
opposite of trying to fall asleep, but also with Obsessive-Compulsive
disorders of all kinds. I have used it many times successfully when doing
psychotherapy. It IS the Law of Similars in action in psychotherapy and it
has amused me many times. Basically, the instruction to the insomniac is
even more than what hahnemannian2002 wisely suggested. I would give the
instruction that they MUST NOT fall asleep, and to make sure they don¹t,
they were supposed to prepare a big pot of coffee in a thermos, pile up
books they wanted to read and all kinds of intellectual work they needed
done. All these were to be placed next to their bed, and they were supposed
to do everything in bed.

I only recall one case where this did not work. But the Homeopathic remedy
that I ended up giving this woman did the trick, along with regimen changes,
such as when she ate her dinner and putting out ALL lights in her bedroom,
including her digital clock.

Sara
"Robert & Shannon Nelson" wrote:
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[muthu kumar]

I have prescribed this before and it works- at least variations of
this- these are similar to tasks the great hypnotherapist Milton
Erickson used to set and also similar to the paradoxical prescribing
in Strategic therapy circles...

the strategic therapies are in many ways similar to homeopathic
prescribing where they basically prescribe the symptom but vary the
context - similar to what I suggested here - instead of it occuring as
if involuntarily we are making it voluntary ( in homeopathic terms
disease is naturally occurring and our drugs are artificial disease
and so heals- because we are prescribing the same symptoms but varying
the context)
--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, Robert & Shannon Nelson
wrote:
trying
and you
by not

[krystina hindley]

When I can't sleep which is hardly ever, I make a cup of coffee and think of all the work and chores I could catch up on. I am never trying to get myself to fall asleep- but work with the sleeplessness constructively. I am pretty sure this has put me to sleep everytime!
Best Wishes,
Krystina

[Sandra]

Hello to all,

I've been experimenting with some of these suggestions about insomnia. So it's taken me a little time to get back
Hi Michael,

I read up on this in a book I have by Luc De Schepper, and he wrote that this particular remedy would be used for sleeplessness
due to 'overjoyous events or pleasant surprises', so I haven't tried that one so far as I know that's not applicable; also need to
purchase this remedy as it's not contained in my kit.

usually used in such situations.

Best regards,
Michael

Hi Karen,

I have been using the Valerian and also Hops and they do help me a lot. I also am taking some magnesium tablets at bedtime.

Cammomile tea to calm and sooth; that state of pure consciousness is really difficult to attain but would turn off the thoughts
racing around.

with the help of a homeopath, who will take a full case and consider
various factors, then guide you about potency, repetition, what to do
if things do or don't change... Well...
There are other "states" of awareness, which may feel very, very like
"not thinking", and presumably *that* is what is being sought, when
people are "trying to not think". When consciousness becomes
sufficiently still, it can go beyond thought into (what has been
described as) "pure consciousness"--consciousness without an object,

Hi hahnemannian,

Counting sheep doesn't seem to work for me either... I think what some of the problem is that my thoughts are not just of things
that happened but negative thoughts that then bring up negative emotions and that I think is really what keeps me from awake with
all the physical changes these emotions must evoke.
you are the shepherd - how about something restful and peaceful like
eating a "shepherd's pie"

to avoid such thoughts - actively look for such thoughts-
the difference here is - till now these thoughts were not under your
control - they came and you had to experience them - now they are
under your control - you are giving yourself permission to be doing
that and also you are taking the energy out of this whole issue by not
fighting or feeling distressed by these thoughts - now you are having
these thoughts because you are allowing them to happen...once you can
control them to come , you can also control them to go....
Hi Shannon,

I try very hard to turn my thoughts from negative to positive and that shift does seem to help although my thoughts keep trying to
revert like a compass to the worst.I am using the herbs and I think they are helping me.

Maybe it would help to have a "mental focus" for sleep--Shannon

But if that's not feasible for you at this point, there are many other
things you can work on yourself that could specifically help with sleep
and calming your mind--from nutritional things such as minerals, herbs,
etc., to lifestyle approaches such as exercise, yoga, meditation (and
*everyone* should do these anyway!!), and another great thing to try is
EFT--see www.emofree.com.
Hi Luise,

I am trying to control the thoughts but it is difficult to not think.The best I've done is control -what- I think and that's helping
too.

One thing that has helped me is GABA which is a neurotransmitter, which
Yes indeed to the latteer. Almost every person who ever tried certain
methods of meditation practice - those that are based on "not
thinking" for a while - will testify to that.

Concerning your case: do you get too little sleep because of this
problem?

Regards
Luise
Hi Jennifer,

That sounds so feasible, that there is some chemical imbalance and I have looked into that about the times I wake up..liver and
kidneys seem to crop up.

helps educate on the subject of all the different Brain Neurotransmitters,
and how they all work differently, and how to determine if a person is
having problems with Serotonin, or if its Tryptophan or GABA, or one of the
others. If one is using the wrong one, the whole chemical imbalance becomes
MUCH worse!
If you have problems with going to sleep, but then waking up at 2 in the
morning, you may need to look somewhere else.... like the liver.... but
otherwise, it may be just a chemistry problem.

Jennifer Ruby
Hi Shannon,

I think I will have to do that .

approaches better suited to work by a professional, who can get fuller
information from you, and follow your case along as necessary.
Let us know if you want more information about it, and/or help in
locating a homeopath?
Best wishes,
Shannon

Hi Karen

I really don't know the difference between true and otherwise insomnia or that there is a difference but I am looking into all these
avenues.

totality of your symptoms must be considered here.
Karen
.
I have been doing much better since I read all your suggestions and wonder if just the aspect of actively seeking. and receiving
suggestions has made a difference. But I am going to continue learn ing more about the homeopathy aspect of it and experimenting
with that also.

Thank you to everyone that offered their help .I'm hope I didn't leave anyone out and if so please consider yourself thanked.. I
reallyappreciate all that I read and learn here .You're a great group!

With warm appreciation,
Sandra

[Shannon Nelson]

Hi Sandra,
Is working with a homeopath an option you're considering, and/or is it
something you'd like to talk more about? It would be so much simpler,
and would help to normalize the *reasons* you're having trouble
sleeping, be the chemical or otherwise, and would likely help other
things too, possibly things you didn't even realize *could* be
changed...
Best,
Shannon

[Sandra]

Hi Shannon,

For right now I have been doing much better recently putting some of the suggestions to work so I'm going to keep on with those and
try to work on the rosacea for now while the insomnia is abated for awhile I believe that is true that when you work on one
problem sometimes it clears up others because they are more connected than we think. Sometimes just being an immune issue can upset
the chemistry and cause things we'd not imagined.And then factor in the emotions...a lot to think about.

Thanks,
Sandra
Hi Sandra,
Is working with a homeopath an option you're considering, and/or is it
something you'd like to talk more about? It would be so much simpler,
and would help to normalize the *reasons* you're having trouble
sleeping, be the chemical or otherwise, and would likely help other
things too, possibly things you didn't even realize *could* be
changed...
Best,
Shannon

[Rochelle Marsden]

Well if anyone can suggest a remedy which stops me waking every 1.5 - 2 hours I would appreciate it. I get off to sleep quickly and I get back to sleep quickly after waking. It started at menopause about 5 years ago. The wakings may or may not be accompanied by a hot flush or need to urinate. Various homeopaths have tried but none have succeeded yet!! There are only 2 Rx in the rep for waking every 2 hours (it has only become less in the last few months) Nat Mur and Puls - neither really describe me as a person but |I have tried both with my present homeopath at a 200C and neither worked. Puls made me feel unwell!! Most of the time I have plenty of energy and don't need to nap during the day.
Rochelle
Registered Homeopath
EFT(Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk

[Sandra]

Rochelle,

I just came across this site that mentions different waking patterns and what the possible cause could be when they are consistent
every night. Our various internal organs are doing repair/cleansing work at certain times of the night during sleep and could be
causing the continual waking up. Don't know if this is what you're going through.

http://www.industryinet.com/~ruby/meridian_times.html

Sandra
Well if anyone can suggest a remedy which stops me waking every 1.5 - 2 hours I would appreciate it. I get off to sleep quickly and
I get back to sleep quickly after waking. It started at menopause about 5 years ago. The wakings may or may not be accompanied by a
hot flush or need to urinate. Various homeopaths have tried but none have succeeded yet!! There are only 2 Rx in the rep for waking
every 2 hours (it has only become less in the last few months) Nat Mur and Puls - neither really describe me as a person but |I have
tried both with my present homeopath at a 200C and neither worked. Puls made me feel unwell!! Most of the time I have plenty of
energy and don't need to nap during the day.

Rochelle
Registered Homeopath
EFT(Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk

[Rochelle]

Dear Sandra,

I got the chart with the Meridian times but can't find where it mentions
different waling patterns!!

Rochelle
Registered Homeopath
EFT(Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk

[Sandra]

Rochelle,

I've been looking through my files ever since I got your post and simply cannot find the timelines chart. I know I had one and
thought this was it when I sent it. It may even have been on my old computer. I've googled it for quite awhile but can't remember
what it was listed under.
Sorry, but what I was trying to say was that at certain times of the sleep phase different body systems are undergoing repair and
rejuvenation and I wondered if this may be something that you could think about as the cause of your frequent awakenings. In the
meantime, I will continue to look for it .

Best,
Sandra
Dear Sandra,

I got the chart with the Meridian times but can't find where it mentions
different waling patterns!!

Rochelle
Registered Homeopath
EFT(Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk