How Torturous Is Insomnia?Insomnia Turned Me Into Someone I Didn’t Recognize

I used to be the calm one. When my roommate burned dinner or my flight got canceled, I’d laugh and roll with it. Then insomnia moved in, and suddenly I was snapping at baristas for taking too long, crying over a spilled glass of water, even yelling at my cat for meowing.

It started with small things. I’d lie awake replaying arguments I’d had, or worrying about things that hadn’t even happened. Doctors call this “rumination,” but it felt more like being haunted by my own thoughts. One week, I got so irritable that my best friend asked if I was okay—her concern made me burst into tears. I didn’t just feel tired; I felt broken.

My body began to betray me too. I caught every cold that went around (my immune system was shot, thanks to no sleep). My stomach ached nonstop, and I lost 10 pounds because I couldn’t eat without feeling nauseous. Studies say sleep loss messes with hormones like cortisol and serotonin, which control mood and hunger—but knowing the science didn’t make it hurt less.

What finally helped? What ultimately worked? Warm feet soaked before going to bed. I use cheap plastic pots (no fancy gadgets) to soak in warm water for 10 minutes. It suddenly pulled my tension from my head to my feet, and those surging thoughts slowed down. I then rub Yongquan acupoints on the soles of my feet (they are concave when you roll up your toes) until they sting. It’s simple, but it’s the first time I ‘ve felt myself in months.