[cwalters24]

Hi Martin and others,
Firstly, thank you so much for your podcast. It is invaluable and does tend to relieve some anxiety.

I am doing CBT I with sleep restriction with a local psychologist. I am covered with insurance this way.

There isn’t very much guidance in terms of what to expect, what’s normal, so Im feeling discouraged along the way.

In my first week of sleep restriction I am sleeping significantly less than before 5hr then 4,3.5,3.5 then 3. I can fall asleep quickly due to increase sleep drive, but then I awaken and when I return to bed my heart is racing and I have strong breathing each night.

It feels as though my first sleep cycle reduced my sleep drive and then after awakening, for rest of the night I can’t fall back asleep, so I yo-yo the rest of the night between bed and couch (stimulus control).

Is this common for the first week? First 2 weeks? If I continue will my sleep consolidate?

While I’m committed- I’m also deeply discouraged at the moment, and strongly associating bed with anxiety.

Thanks so much!

Christine

[NWSleepy]

If you cannot do Martin’s course, I recommend you keep reading this forum, listening to his podcast, and use the Veterans Administration free app called — CBT-i Coach. These things have helped me immensely. Good luck!

[Martin Reed]

This isn’t unusual at all, Christine — and I hope your psychologist has confirmed as much! You are implementing new techniques and these will have your brain monitoring for the effects of the techniques, which can interfere with sleep in the short term.

If you continue to move forward and focus on the process (try to engage that robot mind!) am confident you’ll get through this temporary blip and start to notice some improvements!

It can be helpful to bear in mind, too, that ups and downs along the way are all part of the journey, too!

I hope this helps!

—

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[Shakazulu]

Christine, how are you doing now? I’m experiencing the same thing my first week, its making my sleep shorter. I haven’t gotten to the second week yet. I have horrible nausea with fatigue.

[Author]

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