Severe Insomnia: How do people make it with so little sleep?

Had first hypnotist appt. I’m very relaxed, we will see if that helps with my 😴

Making meditation and Yoga a part of my daily practice is the thing that has really helped me with a lifetime of severe insomnia. It rook me awhile to get the hang of it but now, three years in I cannot imagine having this whole hour just for my good health. Eases my mind, my asthma has improved, my arthritis has learned that I can bend, and I feel so great when I am done. It is so much easier for me to be mindful in my daily life and being retired has become a time of joy for us despite our unanticipated health problems. We had plans for retirement, they changed, now we live happily within our limits and always encourage each other. It is wonderful having a supportive husband. Our three standard poodles help, too! Our oldest is my Service Dog, Beau. Learning to work with our disabilities has helped us realize how much we are still able to discover and enjoy.

How does it reduce your insomnia?

By going through the learning process, doing what I could when I could, at 68 I now use meditation and gentle Yoga to rewire ease into my brain! It's the easiest way for me explain it. I am also being treated by a team, that also makes a difference. When I lay down now, I go right to following my breath, being aware of how it feels breathing in, doubling the count on my out breath. No pressure, simply following my breath.
Highly recommend "The Miracle of Mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hahn. A book that transformed my life in the mid 90's.
It is easier for me to let go, relax and find ease. Next thing I know, it is morning and I wake refreshed.

I went for cognitive behavioral therapy with a sleep psychologist. It involved keeping a specific sleep diary, and he put the info into a computer program and then came up with advice. I was going to bed too late and not getting up at the same time in the morning. I needed to delineate a 9 hour window, no naps after 4 pm. It really has helped. My sleep hygiene was good. However, I am also having my cpap settings re-evaluated. I am sleeping much, much better.

I use a CPAP too and can't sleep without it. best sleep ever since I was diagnosed with apnea in 2010.

When you mean severe insomnia, are there times you do sleep. I don’t sleep at all!!! Unless I take a powerful drug to knock me out. Prior to Covid I slept like a baby.

When I cannot sleep (mind won't relax) I get up and go read in another room until I get tired. Or I clean the house until my mind relaxes and I get sleepy. After three days of messed up sleep I have sleep meds available for my use. Very rarely have had to use them the last two years. Covid sure has a lot of latent things going on doesn't it? I also use Linden flower tea or chamomile tea.

Do you sleep sometimes ?

I’m so happy for you. I get up and still not sleepy. I’ve been up for days at a time.
The only sleep I get is from taking very powerful meds. I must say I envy you because you don’t need any meds. The doctors I’ve seen are baffled why my sleep deprivation is so severe.