[Mac0908]

For 3 years now on and off I’ve had chronic Insomnia, and while I’m night and day compared to where I was when this first began or even a year ago, I’m still trying to think of ways to get to the promise land of being completely healed. The very first thing I was ever told and ever read about Insomnia was to use the bed only for sleeping, and how spending to much time in bed is not good.

Correct me if wrong, but the purpose of this is to retrain the insomniac’s brain into understanding that the bed is ONLY for sleep, which subsequently would lower the sleep anxiety related to this all. Ever since my sleep anxiety has died down tremendously throughout the course of this year, there have been many little “rules” that I have since comfortably done away with. One bed related rule in particular, the “Get out of bed if you can’t sleep within X amount of minutes” rule I have since stopped for example and have been fine.

Two rules I still keep however to this day is only using the bed for sleep and no late lie ins. I wonder at this point, are these rules, now some 3 years later, only continuing to reinforce some of my remaining anxiety with regards to sleep? Is still following these strict bed “rules” actually doing more harm than good at this point? Point being, what IF I just said “F it” I went to lay down and relax in my bed a good hour beforehand? What if I finally just “let go” so to speak?

For my entire life up until about 6 years ago, I’d spend a LOT of time in my bed in general. I’d have a television in my bedroom and I’d watch tv right until the moment before I’d crash. I’d click the remote and would pass out. Never did I ever have problems with sleep. Even when I didn’t have a TV in my bedroom, I’d still spend time there. On my laptop, talking on the phone, even eating. The bed has always kind of been my “spot” until Insomnia came. Then I was told get out and stay out.

Question is, now that I’ve come so far in my healing journey I wonder, what would happen if I slowly, just a bit, returned to my bed for things other than just sleep? Would it really affect my sleep drive still? Martin are you out there??

[Jonathan618]

Ever fall asleep on the couch watching the tube? I see it as harmless as that.

[Martin Reed]

This is certainly something you could try — see it as an experiment and see how you get on! I think you’ll find this video helpful: “Do you have to follow cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) techniques forever?“.

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