Metacognition: is it useful for insomniacs?
If we are to change the conversation around insomnia that first starts with our own internal dialogue.
We must acknowledge the dialogue within ourselves regarding sleeplessness and other aspects of life. The key to changing the stigma around insomnia lies in shifting our own internal conversation.
If I had to sum up my methods for managing insomnia in just two words, they would be "metacognitive awareness." This includes practices such as meditation, self-hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming, tai chi, and qi gong.
But what exactly is metacognition and how can it improve our well-being? It's often described as "thinking about thinking," although it's a bit more complex than that. To address insomnia, this definition will suffice.
This concept is also foundational in mindfulness and NLP techniques, where we learn to observe and understand our thoughts and thought patterns. In future posts, we'll explore topics such as metacognitive training, its definition, how to develop a daily practice, and its application in treating insomnia.
Let's dive deeper into the definitions of metacognition.
Wikipedia describes it as below
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metacognition
Metacognition is "cognition about cognition", "thinking about thinking", "knowing about knowing", becoming "aware of one's awareness" and higher-order thinking skills. The term comes from the root word meta, meaning "beyond".
That is great but what does it mean? Why is it important to me as an insomniac?
Let’s break it down.
Meta-cognition, the act of "thinking about thinking" or "knowing about knowing", involves becoming aware of our own thinking processes and utilizing higher-order thinking skills. The prefix meta comes from the Greek word meaning "beyond", suggesting a deeper level of introspection. This is where neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) comes into play; it delves into our thought patterns and language use when considering different subjects.
A crucial question to ask ourselves is: How much time do we spend consciously considering our own thoughts? Not just the content of those thoughts, but the structure, format, emotions behind them, and word choice.
What kind of mindset do we have when approaching a situation in our lives? Is it optimistic or pessimistic?
How does our thought process impact our emotions and physical reactions? Are we even aware of this connection? Are we truly cognizant of our own awareness and its influence on our thoughts and bodily responses?
For instance, when we walk into a quiet room and everyone suddenly falls silent, what are the immediate thoughts that arise in our minds?
Are they negative?
Are they negative: "Were they all talking about me?"
Are they neutral?
Are they neutral: "Oh, the conversations must have naturally stopped."
Are they positive?
Are they positive: "They stopped the conversation when I entered the room because they want to hear what I have to say."
In these three simple examples, we can see how our thoughts can affect our emotions and ultimately shape our perception of a situation. By practicing mindfulness techniques and becoming more aware of how we think through NLP, we can develop higher-order thinking skills that empower us to break free from negative thought patterns.
But why is this important?
While we won't delve too deeply into this topic in this blog post, it's worth noting that there is a strong connection between our thoughts, feelings, and emotions and their impact on our mental and physical health. For instance, if we take a moment to consider the rush of emotions we experience while watching a happy or sad movie, it's clear how our thoughts can trigger chemical reactions in our bodies that can influence our overall well-being. This is why becoming aware of our thought patterns and learning to control them is crucial for our overall well-being.
As insomniacs, we often spend long periods lost in our own thoughts. This can continue for days on end, and if those thoughts are negative or hurt our physical and chemical well-being, it can greatly disrupt our ability to get rest and sleep. Our bodies can become addicted to the chemicals released by these thoughts and emotions, whether they are positive or negative.
However, with metacognitive training and being present at the moment, we can learn to question why we are feeling a certain way or thinking in a certain manner. By gaining mastery over our thoughts, feelings, and emotions, we can choose whether or not to act on them.
This does not mean ignoring or suppressing negative emotions entirely; sometimes, it is healthier to let them run their course. However, the important distinction is that we are in control of our decisions rather than being controlled by external influences like our environment, biases, beliefs, or media consumption.
By questioning and examining our own thoughts and emotions, we can prevent outside forces from manipulating us and ultimately gain more control over our lives.
Influencers, politicians, and media organizations across the globe are constantly discussing and implementing strategies to capture your attention and sway public opinion. This can have a subtle yet significant impact on the mindset of society. As an individual, you may also be affected by these tactics. I will delve deeper into this when examining how the insomnia and self-help industry uses persuasive techniques to influence people.
In today's world, where fake news, sound bites, online clutter, and isolated echo chambers are prevalent, it is important to question the origins of our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs.
But what exactly is metacognitive training? We will explore this in more detail in upcoming posts.
Finally, if you need support and would like a place to talk to other insomniacs, please check out my insomnia chat Facebook group. At the time of writing, it has over two thousand members and growing. People post within the group or use the chats provided to share their experiences and give each other support.
You can find it here: Insomnia Chat Facebook Group