• Home
  • What is A Sleep Advocate?
  • About
  • Our Philosophy
  • FAQ
  • Contact

Sleep Advocate

SleepAdvocate promotes your intrinsic right to sleep well, be rested, and enjoy life’s awakenings: provides evidence-based, practical, professional, medical guidance for persons and for organizations.

  • Dr. Ross’ Sleep Blog
  • Personal Diary
  • CBTI
  • SleepWakeLife

Listening To Insomnia

January 6, 2016 by Ross Grumet Leave a Comment

Listening To Insomnia by Dr. Ross Grumet, The Sleep AdvocateOne simple point about sleep difficulties, which we personalize as “Insomnia”:  Consider it as a signal,  a message, something that deserves your attention. If you are not falling asleep or staying asleep (and we know sleep is a vital function), then your body is telling you something. (Note: As a physician, my first concern is whether some significant medical condition is present, such as sleep apnea or heart disease- a medical evaluation may be needed). But what is the message?

Insomnia, like pain, is not just a thing to be gotten rid of, although that is a common reflex response. Let’s be curious and go a little deeper.  Give your body credit for having something to say. Why does my mind seem to become more active just when I am deciding to go to bed at 11 pm? Why does the dog start pulling at the leash just when I have decided to return home? Is my attention being directed at some important unfinished business? Is my memory being nudged regarding possible sickness of my child? Am I being reminded that tonight I am designated to guard the perimeter of my sleep community, while the other tribe members rest closer to the campfire? Is there a bill to be paid or a meal to be prepared?

I want to listen to the messages conveyed by delayed sleep onset or early awakening. I don’t enjoy fighting an evil thing called Sleeplessness or Insomnia. Before I cancel the message with a sleeping pill, I may want to indulge my curiosity and peek around the edge of conscious awareness.

Filed Under: General, SleepWakeLife

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CAPTCHA
Refresh

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Sleep Advocate

What is a Sleep Advocate?

What is A Sleep Advocate? SleepAdvocate promotes your intrinsic right to sleep well, be rested, and enjoy life’s awakenings: provides evidence-based, … [Read More...]

Contact The Sleep Advocate

Questions about sleep? Having issues with sleep apnea, insomnia, and other sleep problems? Contact Dr. Ross Grumet, the Sleep Advocate. Please fill-out the … [Read More...]

Follow Us!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on Google+Follow Us on LinkedIn

Get Updates

New Ideas from Dr. Grumet

* indicates required

Sleep Blog

Can new directions in psychiatry exploring the human brain network (Brain Connectome Project) provide help in areas of opioid addiction, drug overdose, alcoholism, suicide, deaths of despair, and other issues?

Psychiatry is Never Boring

Can exciting new directions in psychiatry exploring the human brain network called the Brain … [Read More...]

Are depression, addiction, alcoholism, and anxiety really like medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes? The problems with medical analogies and suffering

Is Depression Really Like Asthma?

Are depression, addiction, alcoholism, and anxiety really like medical conditions such as asthma or … [Read More...]

Medical Disclaimer

Me … Click HERE for Medical Disclaimer

  • Website Privacy Policy

Post this page to:

Ads by Google AdSense

Ads that appear on this website in the header, left column, within certain pages and footer are sponsor ads by Google AdSense.
The sleepadvocate.com website does not endorse the products and services advertised in these ads.
The companies and organizations in ads are not affiliated with sleepadvocate.com. The only affiliation is the one between sleepadvocate.com and Google.
Google controls which ads are shown. For more on how Google displays ads, CLICK HERE

Copyright 2016 · All Rights Reserved · Website by TechAdvocate Solutions