The one change that worked: meditation cured my insomnia – and transformed my relationships

The practice that helped me to sleep also gave me the clarity to end my marriage, and to begin dating againIn the run-up to Christmas 2018, wobbly with delirium on a station platform packed with partygoers, I nearly fell under a train. Insomnia – not the “I woke at 3am for a bit” type, but the brutalising “I might have dropped off for a fretful 45 minutes at around 6am” kind – will do that to a person.I have rarely slept well. But this particular stretch of insomnia was, almost literally, a killer. I’d tried every snake oil on the market. A Harley Street hypnotist gave up on me after two sessions. Prescription sleeping pills stopped working. As a last resort, I tried the eight-week NHS cognitive behavioural therapy course for insomnia. It involved a tedious sleep diary, increasing “sleep pressure” by forcing myself to stay up until 2am and strengthening the “bed-sleep connection” by sacrificing my bedtime read. Far from helping, these strategies ramped up my frustration. Then I found one thing that did work – something I had dismissed as the preserve of man buns and pseudo-spiritualists: meditation. Continue reading...

Comments

Health news

NIH scientists publish declaration criticizing Trump's deep cuts in public health research

ABC News

Anneka was told she had kidney failure in her 30s. The cause? Undetected high blood pressure. As cases skyrocket, she now reveals the signs that were missed - and the simple test everyone should take

about 8 hours ago

Truth about if you should be taking fish oil to protect your brain, revealed by DR ELLIE

Dailymail

Liver disease is on the rise in the UK due to soaring obesity levels, but a 10-minute stroll each day can help stop it in its tracks

about 8 hours ago

Dailymail

Shocking rise of 'Ozempic HANDS': New disturbing side effect of weight-loss jab leaving celebrities looking 'like the undead'

about 8 hours ago

Dailymail

Surprising symptoms of 'overlooked' cancer every woman must know - only 15% per cent survive if it's caught late

about 8 hours ago

Dailymail

Getting up to eat at night? Doctors reveal there's a little-known cause that can leave you at risk of chronic health problems... but there ARE ways to fix it

about 8 hours ago

Dailymail

Zoe guru Prof Tim Spector reveals the healthiest supermarket loaves - eating the right one could ward off colon cancer

about 8 hours ago

Dailymail

How women blighted by cruel back pain may actually have hidden arthritis - as doctors reveal there's a simple drug cure that can end the agony. Special report by ETHAN ENNALS

about 8 hours ago

Dailymail

Pioneering device could help patients with Parkinson's, which affects 150,000 people in the UK, to walk again

about 8 hours ago

Dailymail

Cancer patients in the UK dealing with 'worst drug shortage' as sufferers forced to skip meals and ration doses of their medication

about 8 hours ago

Dailymail

I almost died after my chiropractor tore an artery while cracking my neck

about 8 hours ago

Dailymail

STI map of Britain! As cases of terrifying syphilis soar, is your area a hotspot for one of the 5 biggest sexual diseases?

about 8 hours ago

Common food item could lower your risk of heart disease & type 2 diabetes, boffins claim

The Sun

Comments

Health news

NIH scientists publish declaration criticizing Trump's deep cuts in public health research

Disease that can cause dementia is spreading across England

New coronavirus only ‘one small step from spilling over into humans’ and sparking widespread outbreak, say scientists

Urgent recall of paracetamol pills over ‘contamination’ fears – as patients urged to check packets now

Bladder weakness after childbirth affects one in three women, so let’s talk about it

'Flu-like' symptoms could be sign of infection affecting all ages

Make a super statement of true elegance with the Spirit Zulu Time 1925

New fat jabs warning over ‘increased risk of cancer – as experts fear they ‘stop common medication working’

New ‘poo pills’ could flush out killer bugs that kill one million Brits each year

A Day With One Abortion Pill Prescriber

Why influencers are choosing Seneca UK for their hair restoration treatments

Doctor shares one mistake you're making in shower and why you should stop

New Covid variant spreading as doctors issue alert and symptoms to look for

‘It’s made up’: Democrats say Rubio isn’t playing it straight about foreign aid cuts

Mum who nearly died after falling sick in Spain issues warning after anti-sickness pills left her ‘acting possessed’

Horrifying photos show the true cause of man’s itchy eye – after he found a LEECH feasting on his eyeball

NHS calls for a million blood donors as stocks run low

17 years after I gave blood an unexpected email changed my life

Emissions fell when firms reported them—EPA may end rule

Tesco shoppers urged by NHS to read important label in stores

Do you need a magnesium supplement? Experts share symptoms of deficiency

NHS issues urgent call for 200,000 blood donors to avoid critical emergency as stocks run low

'I'm going to outlive our child, there are no words'

NHS calls for 200,000 new blood donors as supplies run low

We always joked dad looked nothing like his parents - then we found out why

Doctors trialling 'poo pills' to flush out dangerous superbugs

Nurses to vote on pay deal as potential strike looms

Blood donation: Who is eligible, how do I donate my blood and where can I do so in London?

Hype or helpful? The truth behind devices that monitor your blood sugar

Latest figures reveal ‘shameful’ inequality gap in dental care access

Scots scientists make key discovery in how bowel cancer is able to disguise itself

How a dog aging project can help pets and humans live healthier lives

Hyped longevity pill loved by biohacker Bryan Johnson fails to stop aging, study reveals

New warning over honey - reports of brain-eating bugs in sweetener leaving patients PARALYSED

Anneka was told she had kidney failure in her 30s. The cause? Undetected high blood pressure. As cases skyrocket, she now reveals the signs that were missed - and the simple test everyone should take

Truth about if you should be taking fish oil to protect your brain, revealed by DR ELLIE

I invented the 'Death Clock'... and was horrified when it confirmed my worst fears about my own health

Eating at least five grams of butter a day can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease

Not only does sleep recharge your batteries - it might also stop you going deaf in your old age

Liver disease is on the rise in the UK due to soaring obesity levels, but a 10-minute stroll each day can help stop it in its tracks

Shocking rise of 'Ozempic HANDS': New disturbing side effect of weight-loss jab leaving celebrities looking 'like the undead'

Surprising symptoms of 'overlooked' cancer every woman must know - only 15% per cent survive if it's caught late

Getting up to eat at night? Doctors reveal there's a little-known cause that can leave you at risk of chronic health problems... but there ARE ways to fix it

Zoe guru Prof Tim Spector reveals the healthiest supermarket loaves - eating the right one could ward off colon cancer

How women blighted by cruel back pain may actually have hidden arthritis - as doctors reveal there's a simple drug cure that can end the agony. Special report by ETHAN ENNALS

Pioneering device could help patients with Parkinson's, which affects 150,000 people in the UK, to walk again

Cancer patients in the UK dealing with 'worst drug shortage' as sufferers forced to skip meals and ration doses of their medication

I almost died after my chiropractor tore an artery while cracking my neck

STI map of Britain! As cases of terrifying syphilis soar, is your area a hotspot for one of the 5 biggest sexual diseases?

Common food item could lower your risk of heart disease & type 2 diabetes, boffins claim

Gut bacteria changes could be ‘warning sign for worsening Parkinson’s symptoms’

Nurses to vote on pay deal amid concerns of industrial action

Bowel cancer cells can ‘shapeshift’ to enable aggressive spread, research finds

NHS calls for a million blood donors as stocks run low

How to build your own air filter for wildfire smoke

Encore: making DIY air filters

Number of fat jab NHS prescriptions doubles in a year as 73% of Sun readers now think about using injections

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Eggs Sickens Dozens

Couples who cuddle before sleep reap these health benefits, study reveals

RFK Jr. fact check: Were Americans actually healthier decades ago?