Sophie had always been a planner. At 40, she was deeply dedicated to her family and work, but for years, insomnia had been a heavy weight she carried silently. Nights stretched long and restless, filled with worry and frustration. She tried everything—sleep hygiene routines, herbal teas, even medication—but nothing seemed to ease her struggle.

She often wondered, Will I ever sleep like I used to? Will this ever go away?

And then, something unexpected happened.

The Adventure That Changed Everything

It began with a simple invitation. A friend had dropped out of a month-long volunteer trip to Patagonia, leaving a last-minute opening. Normally, Sophie would have said no—too much to organize, too much responsibility, too worried it may make her insomnia worse. But something inside her stirred. The thought of hiking in the Andes, camping under open skies, and rediscovering herself felt both terrifying and thrilling.

So, with a mix of excitement and nerves, Sophie said yes.

The trip was...

A common question people have about insomnia is, “What does insomnia actually do to the brain?” To answer this, let’s break it down into two parts, starting with what insomnia does not do to the brain.

What Insomnia Does Not Do to the Brain

Firstly, there’s no evidence that insomnia causes any kind of permanent damage to the brain. Research has never shown that insomnia makes us "go crazy," become psychotic, or causes any lasting brain injury. This can be really comforting to know, especially if you’ve been lying awake at night, worrying that lack of sleep is harming you in some irreversible way.

Understanding this can be very helpful because insomnia itself stems from a fear of not sleeping. When we start to think that insomnia will cause brain damage or lead to losing control, it reinforces that fear, which then keeps insomnia going. Simply knowing that insomnia does not cause any damage can be a big relief. It’s a reassurance that while insomnia is uncomfortable and can be frustr...