[pbgans]

I am working with a CBT-I therapist and I am currently on my second week of sleep restriction.
I feel like I am getting less sleep than I did before I started.
My concern is focused on the amount of time I am in bed NOT sleeping. I was instructed to get right out of bed when I can’t sleep and not to go back into bed unless I can no longer physically stay awake. So now I worry that I conditioning myself not to sleep. My doctor’s mantra is sacrifice tonight’s sleep for tomorrow night.
What are other people’s experiences with sleep restriction?

[Martin Reed]

Many people find things temporarily get more difficult when they make changes to their approach — so you aren’t alone there!

In my experience, I don’t think there’s any need to get out of bed just because you’re awake — unless you want to! What I feel is more important is responding in a different way to wakefulness whenever you find yourself struggling with being awake. I think it’s the ongoing struggle with being awake that is the real issue — not being awake in bed, as tends to be the opinion within mainstream CBT-I.

With all this being said, I am a coach and not a therapist! And, your therapist knows more about you than I do (although you still remain the expert on yourself)! Have you shared your concerns about getting out of bed when awake with your CBT-I therapist?

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