Daniel Erichsen

Sleep MD turned Sleep Coach | Created BedTyme app | Author of Tales of Courage | Co-founded The Sleep Coach School

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

Dear everyone,

If you know anyone who’s wondered how insomnia ends, and would like tenth-six (!) stories of exactly that…

…please tell them about this brand new book! 🤗🙏

https://t.co/tM3nrP0jUa

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

It’s been said almost nothing of what we worry about happens.

Our brain warning us when there’s no threat is a feature of being human.

We could say:

Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Fool me countless times, shame on nobody.

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

@RaoulGMI @cburniske

[Beth Kendall | Insomnia Coach @mindbodysleep_]

One of the most perplexing things about insomnia for me was how it could go away for weeks, (or even months at a time), only to come back for no apparent reason.

This podcast is for anyone going through a cyclical experience with insomnia:

https://t.co/jM6JYYXLJU

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

@JenSeniorNY Hi Jen, hope this tweet finds you well.

Sooo many in our community told me about your Atlantic article on insomnia.

Here’s some thoughts from an alternative view of sleep struggles.

Rooting for you!
https://t.co/PmQIdWscIT

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

@mindbodysleep_ Anytime, glad to see you here 😊

[Beth Kendall | Insomnia Coach @mindbodysleep_]

To get beyond insomnia, you really only need to change two things:

- Your focus

- Your responses

Then sleep will take care of itself.

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

I just hear a fellow sleep coach say “that’s ultimate surrender, it’s what sets us free”, which sounded odd.

Aren’t we going to be captured if we surrender?

But no, because with the inner struggle there is no actual enemy.

Surrender is what sets us free.

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

@devbakes @RaoulGMI Fortune favors the brave!

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

@Salimetrics Thank you! And your insight in a way highlights the same point.

When we for example are jet lagged, there’s nothing wrong with our sleep - it just happens in an unaligned way.

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

Insomnia happens when our brain classifies being awake as a threat.

Sensing a threat, we become more vigilant, more awake, confirming that we indeed are in danger.

Which in reality isn’t the case.

There’s just been a misclassification. Insomnia is a misunderstanding.

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

If it’s clear to us that what we resist persists (and what we don’t resist doesn’t), then maybe instead of stress management courses and relaxation techniques we ought to develop:

- stress acceptance courses
- anxiety welcoming techniques

Just saying…

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

@rahulshivkumar Congrats!! Got mine 2 years ago now 😊

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

Wow. This is the type of insight that I believe cannot keep us from seeing through insomnia and leaving the struggle. Paradoxically.

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

With an inner struggle like insomnia, with no actual threat but only a perceived threat (wakefulness) - trying to escape reinforces the idea that we are in danger.

In other words:

Pursuing safety is the greatest risk.

One of many, many paradoxes in our space.

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

@ndwignall Welcome Nick & family 🤗!! Can’t wait to see y’all here soon!

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

In other words, insomnia is a misunderstood misunderstanding.

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

However, this is not how insomnia is generally understood.

Rather insomnia is thought of as a sleep disorder.

Which in reality it isn’t.

There’s nothing wrong with our sleep when we have insomnia, we are simply kept awake as our brain believes we are threatened.

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

Is there anything that’s not in our heads?

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

A guest on our YouTube channel, Daniel, sharing how they left insomnia said:

“Fear doesn’t stop death, fear stops life from occurring.”

There’s something very true there isn’t it?

[Daniel Erichsen @ErichsenDaniel]

@ndwignall Right! we hear “stop caring what others think”, but we’re a pack animal, it’s hardwired to think about our place in the tribe for survival, that’s normal!

But in 2025 it’s not actually like what they think impacts our survival, we can a bit care less.

Something like that?