Insomnia is a familiar foe for many Australians, particularly as they age. But for one woman, the nightly torment of sleeplessness reached such a peak that it nearly cost her her life.
One harrowing Christmas, after days without proper rest, she found herself so delirious that she almost wandered onto train tracks—an experience that served as a wake-up call in more ways than one.
Like countless others, Helen Down tried everything to reclaim her nights: herbal teas, lavender sprays, warm baths, and even a famed Harley Street hypnotist.
When nothing worked, she turned to prescription sleeping pills—but their effects were short-lived. In a final bid to find relief, she enrolled in an eight-week National Health Service cognitive behavioural therapy program for insomnia.
The course demanded strict sleep hygiene: logging sleep patterns, delaying bedtime to increase ‘sleep pressure’, and giving up cherished rituals like bedtime reading. Instead of alleviating her distress, these measures only fuelled her anxiety.
‘The sleep diaries got binned, but the meditation did not,’ she said.
On the verge of surrender, she decided to explore a practice she had long dismissed as too ‘new age’: meditation.
Initially sceptical, she downloaded a meditation app and began with a simple body scan, gently observing each part of her body without judgment.
Gradually, she learned to view her anxious thoughts as fleeting clouds drifting across her mental sky.
‘I honestly don’t know how I would have survived dating apps without meditation apps,’ she said.
The turning point came when meditation became a regular part of her routine, just ten minutes after brushing her teeth each night.
Over time, her dread of bedtime faded. She began to fall asleep more easily and stay asleep for up to six hours at a time—an outcome she described as bliss.
More than sleep: A tool for life’s turmoil
Meditation didn’t just improve her sleep—it transformed how she approached life’s challenges. Through mindfulness, she learned to ‘respond, not react’—a principle that helped her navigate her divorce calmly and clearly.
‘Meditation helps defuse things. If I let the habit slip, the tetchiness—and insomnia—creep back in,’ she said.
When she re-entered the dating world, she was better equipped to handle the emotional rollercoaster of dating apps. Meditation allowed her to observe her experiences with detachment, rather than being overwhelmed by them.
One of the most surprising benefits was that meditation improved her relationship with her child. Between the turbulence of menopause and her child’s teenage mood swings, tensions often flared.
‘Throw my menopause and their teendom into the mix, and you get something more explosive than fireworks on New Year’s Eve,’ she said.
However, daily mindfulness practice made her more patient and less reactive. On days when she skipped meditation, both irritability and insomnia would creep back.
What began as a desperate experiment evolved into a life-changing habit. Meditation expanded her perspective, making her more open to vulnerability, therapy, and even spirituality.
In hindsight, she’s almost thankful for those long, sleepless nights—they pushed her toward a new way of being.
How to start meditating
For those curious but unsure where to begin, her advice is simple:
- Start small, even five minutes a day can make a difference.
- Use an app. Try tools like Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer.
- Don’t worry about doing it ‘right’. It’s about observing, not suppressing, thoughts.
- Be patient. Like any habit, results come with time.
The benefits of meditation are not just anecdotal. Research supports its effectiveness in reducing stress, improving sleep, and lowering blood pressure.
It may be a powerful, drug-free ally for older Australians facing the multifaceted challenges of ageing.
Have you tried meditation to manage insomnia or emotional stress? Or found a different strategy that worked wonders? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below. Together, we can help each other find more calm—and maybe even a few extra hours of sleep.
Also read: Struggling to fall asleep? Australians swear by this 2-minute trick!
