[SIAUS]

Hi. I have had insomnia for years. I used medication for several years but stopped taking anything, on a regular basis, for the last 4-5 years. Met a sleep specialist a few months back. She suggested ‘Restricted Sleep Therapy’. It has helped me. But still I do have some sleepless nights & in general have stress almost every night. I joined this forum on my husband’s suggestion. I am looking for tips for a better sleep & just want to connect with other people who have similar challenge.

[Martin Reed]

Glad to hear you discovered cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) techniques such as sleep restriction, SIAUS, and that is has been helping you!

Difficult nights from time to time are normal and to be expected. Nobody experiences perfect sleep (or the exact same sleep) from night to night. It will take time to chip away at sleep-related worry/arousal/stress — every better night of sleep builds sleep confidence and reduces stress. Unfortunately, there’s no magic “off-switch” or overnight cure!

So, I would encourage you to keep going — keep looking forward, and keep implementing the techniques that are working for you! If you find yourself awake in bed during the night and it doesn’t feel good to be in bed it can be really helpful to get out of bed and do something relaxing and enjoyable instead. This will prevent you from reinforcing any negative association between your bed and unpleasant wakefulness.

I hope this helps!

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The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

[Author]

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