Insomnia: The Lingering Echo of Unresolved Threat

In the stillness of the night, as the world around us quiets down, our internal struggles often come into sharp focus.Insomnia, the inability to fall or stay asleep, is a common affliction in the modern world. While its causes can be varied, at its core lies an inability to resolve threat and return to a state of ease.

Animals in the wild, living in tune with the natural rhythms of day and night, rarely experience such sleep disturbances.Their bodies, constantly in motion and attuned to their environment, efficiently discharge the threat response. When the sun sets, their systems naturally wind down, allowing for deep and restorative sleep.

For humans, however, the threat response often persists long after the initial trigger has passed. Stressful thoughts,unresolved emotions, and lingering anxieties can keep the nervous system in a state of hyperarousal, making it difficult to relax and surrender to sleep.

When this unresolved threat lingers in our system, it creates a cascade of physiological effects. One of the most significant impacts is on the liver, the body's primary detoxification organ. The liver plays a crucial role in processing and eliminating toxins, including the stress hormones released during the threat response.

When the liver becomes overburdened by these toxins, its function can become impaired. This can lead to a buildup of metabolic waste products and a disruption of the body's natural detoxification processes. This, in turn, can affect the quality of our sleep, leading to insomnia and other sleep disturbances.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there's a fascinating metaphor that sheds light on this phenomenon. It is said that during the day, the spirit resides in the heart, expressing itself through the eyes. At night, however, the spirit retreats to the liver.If the liver is stagnant and burdened with toxins, the spirit cannot rest peacefully. It wanders throughout the night, leading to restlessness and frequent awakenings.

This is why many people with insomnia often wake up between 3 and 5 am, the time associated with the liver in the Chinese body clock. The body, unable to fully detoxify and restore itself, sends signals of distress, disrupting sleep and leaving us feeling tired and unrested.

The solution to insomnia, then, lies not merely in improving sleep hygiene or taking medication, but in addressing the root cause: the unresolved threat response. By learning to recognize and release the tension in our bodies and minds, we can create the conditions for deep and restful sleep.

The key is to prioritize ease, both in our waking lives and in our sleep. By creating a sense of safety and security within ourselves, we allow the body to relax, the mind to quiet, and the spirit to rest peacefully. In this state of deep relaxation,true healing and restoration can occur, leading to improved sleep and a greater sense of well-being