How I Completely Revitalized My Sleep Patterns

4 min read
Evidence based
Dainius Jakucionis, MD
By Dainius Jakucionis, MD Updated on 2024 Jan 22

Sleep is a big deal. 

I wouldn’t wish the kind of insomnia I had on anybody.

My name is Olivia. I’m a 30-year-old graphic designer. And I was so. Damn. Stressed. 

As far back as I can remember, at least in my adult life, I’ve suffered from stress and generalized anxiety. 

There was never a moment for me that triggered this – maybe I was just born with it.

Being a worrier and overthinker came naturally to me, and at times I even prided myself in my ability to dig deep and find the most minor problems. I thought it helped me in my career – being so attentive to details. 

I was wrong, of course, but I learned that much later. 

The beginning of the end

It started on a typical, boring Wednesday. 

I went into the office like I always do, had my morning coffee, chatted with my colleagues, and got to work. 

But that didn’t happen, the work part, I mean. 

I just sat there.

Staring at the screen, trying to make things make sense in my head. But… they didn’t.

Suddenly it felt as though everything I knew had been scooped out of my brain and thrown in the trash.

I felt like I was having a panic attack.

I wasn’t, it turns out; I was just scared.

I got up and went to the kitchen for some cold water, maybe I was just really dehydrated. 

Then I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflective metal of the microwave.

I looked drained.

Not drained like “Oh there goes Olivia, she’s been working hard, bless her” – drained like “Oh there goes Olivia, we should probably call her an ambulance.”

I immediately went to my manager and explained how I felt, and luckily for me, she was completely understanding and said I should go to the doctor to figure out what was going on.

The first sign of trouble

I called my GP and headed over as soon as an appointment was available. 

After the first look at me, he asked, “Have you been sleeping much?” – I answered that, yes, the same as always, not a huge amount, just a solid 4–5 hours per night. 

He raised his eyebrow. 

4–5 hours per night was indeed the norm for me, but apparently, this wasn’t enough. Clearly, I mean, I looked like a ghost.

He quickly understood that physically there were no underlying health issues.

However, he did refer me and strongly urged me to visit a psychiatrist.

So, I did. 

After the first meeting and many discussions, I was diagnosed with generalized stress and anxiety with insomnia. 

But there was a catch – I was prescribed medication to combat this.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not an anti-vaxxer terrified of science, but I prefer to treat things as naturally as possible. 

So, you can probably tell that the idea of medication didn’t sit particularly well with me.

I gave it a shot, though. It was a recommendation from a medical professional, so who was I to question it? And if it meant I’d go back to feeling relaxed, sleeping well, and not looking like a ghost, I was all for it.

A temporary fix

The medication did help me.

But only to a certain extent, and unfortunately, I suffered some unpleasant side effects. 

My mouth was always dry, I’d feel light-headed and a little nauseous in the mornings.

I was sleeping more, but I felt no more rested.

So I started seeking an alternative to the medication that would allow me to continue feeling better without the adverse effects.

That’s when I discovered the plethora of mental health improvement apps available.

It was a bit overwhelming, to be honest. 

I stumbled across an online forum where people discussed such things and saw a recommendation for an app called Sensa. 

The forum user seemed to have very good things to say about it, so I figured I’d check it out.

I went onto the website and completed the quiz, and the results lined up exactly with how I felt. 

Drained, tired, stressed, anxious. 

I am she, she is me. 

So I bought the plan since it was really well-priced, even cheaper than my monthly prescription for meds – let alone the cost of the therapist visits. 

The light at the end of the tunnel

Within a matter of weeks, I’d stopped taking the medication, and my condition was improving to no end. 

I felt energized, ambitious, and well-rested. 

Even my psychiatrist quizzed me on my progress and was shocked to hear that I’d stopped taking the medication – considering how much better I was feeling. 

My advice to you is simple.

If you have ever felt, or currently feel, the way I did – there is a way out.

It’s not expensive, it’s not time-consuming, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Your mental well-being is everything – don’t let yourself reach the bottom before starting to climb out.

Try Sensa by taking the quiz below – you won’t regret it!

Dainius Jakucionis, MD

Dainius is a renowned psychotherapist, holding a Master’s Degree in Medicine and additional training in Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy.