TonyExcessive Thinking or Worrying in Bed: Tony, 28, self-employed tradesman, single.
Problem: Has slept badly all his life, no known cause. Was on sleeping tablets even as
a child - accidentally overdosed on them at age of 5. If he is not sleeping, lies in bed
thinking about anything and everything, or worries about how he will get through the day.
Has been off work for four months because of sleep problem.
Before: Takes 2-4 hours to fall asleep. Has trouble switching off the brain. Usually
wakes once or twice during the night, and often finds it hard to get back to sleep.
Generally gets 2-3 hours sleep; sometimes gets no sleep. Is very tired during the day, but
not drowsy.
After: 'I’ve had insomnia all my life - it’s so wonderful to be able to sleep! It took
a few weeks for the program to begin to work, but my sleep is now a lot better'. Now falls
asleep within 30 minutes on most nights. Does not worry so much about not sleeping. Is less
tired during the day, and is now back at work. 'It’s not that I sleep perfectly every night
- I don’t. But I now know that it’s normal to have a bad night every now and then. That
realism helped a lot'.
Learning to reduce thinking and worrying in bed seems to have been important, also
listening to the tapes often. 'I seemed to get something new out of the tapes each time I
listened to them'.
