Mind Spa (How to Relieve Psychological Stress)

Author: Shen Xi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: According to research, one in four people have experienced insomnia. Those with persistent insomnia are often strong seekers of treatment, while most untreated cases tend to self-heal. Why is this the case? Seekers of treatment often exhibit neurotic hypochondriac tendencies, an excessive pursuit of perfection, and heightened sensitivity to their own physical, mental, and interpersonal well-being. Almost everyone experiences insomnia due to various factors, such as environmental noise, physical discomfort, excessive daytime excitement, or consuming strong tea or coffee before bed. However, the most common cause of insomnia remains mental tension, anxiety, depression, and fear.
General insomnia typically lasts for several days or even weeks, which is often a normal physiological or psychological defense response. However, patients with the aforementioned traits become excessively anxious and lie in bed struggling to sleep, tossing and turning over their inability to do so. They worry about feeling lethargic the next day and affecting their work, leading to further anxiety. In reality, they have fallen into an "insomnia trap"—anxiety about insomnia causes insomnia, and insomnia fuels anxiety. This is the psychological mechanism of "spiritual interaction," where excessive focus on a sensation makes it hypersensitive and worsens it, which in turn intensifies anxiety and focus, creating a vicious cycle.
Thus, your anxiety and focus, or your attitude toward seeking treatment, can only lead you down the path of relying on sleeping pills. Those who "don't treat" often self-heal because they maintain a positive and optimistic outlook on life. While poor rest is undoubtedly frustrating, they dismiss it as trivial. If they don't feel sleepy at midnight, they don't get upset and might even get up to read a book. Though they may feel slightly uncomfortable the next day, they continue to work and live healthily and energetically. This laid-back attitude keeps their minds at ease, free from the entanglement of the "insomnia trap," thereby eliminating the root cause of insomnia—the lack of focus on insomnia allows it to fade away unnoticed.
Of course, the "untreated" approach we refer to is merely a psychological coping strategy. Insomnia has many causes, and if you seek medical help, your prescription might simply read "untreatable thoughts." As the saying goes in psychology, "If you see yourself as a patient, you will live like one forever; if you see yourself as healthy, you will live healthily and optimistically like a normal person." Therefore, don't treat insomnia as a disease—accept it openly without worry or fear. "Only by giving up the pursuit of sleep can you attain it," for sleep does not occur by force of will. Thus, avoid chasing sleep. At the same time, cultivate healthy living habits and pay attention to mental well-being.
Wang, a 25-year-old unmarried male, dreams every night, often waking up in extreme fear from terrifying dreams. He struggles to sleep and lacks energy the next day. This has persisted for over six months, causing him immense distress. With no other option, he sought help from a psychologist. In reality, dreaming during sleep is a normal phenomenon. The presence of dreams indicates that you are asleep, not that you believe you haven't slept all night. Generally, people dream every night, but those with good sleep quality tend to forget their dreams upon waking, while those with poor sleep quality may remember some details.