What is "normal" sleep? (And why it's important to know the answer when you have chronic insomnia.)

YouTube Video VVVMNUxzTFVlVkEyal9Wc2w1NjI1c2hRLmNDbjlwMUtmTmtN

When you have chronic insomnia, it's so important to have a good understanding of what "normal" sleep actually is because incorrect beliefs or assumptions about sleep can actually perpetuate insomnia since we can set ourselves unachievable and unrealistic goals.<br /><br />When we struggle (or fail) to reach these goals, we can believe something is seriously wrong and that we're destined to live with insomnia forever.<br /><br />First of all, it's important to recognize that it's quite unlikely you need eight hours of sleep. We all have a unique sleep requirement — and, for many people, this tends to be closer to six hours than eight hours.<br /><br />Related video:<br /><br />What do shoe sizes and sleep requirements have in common? (Hint: We are all different): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar1y9y0TvJY<br /><br />It's also important to understand that it's normal to take a while to fall asleep after getting into bed. Most people will take up to half an hour to fall asleep when they get into bed — so try to avoid putting pressure on yourself to fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow!<br /><br />Related video:<br /><br />Falling asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow and not waking during the night isn't normal! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oHMHq9K_C4<br /><br />Awakenings are a normal part of sleep. It is completely normal to wake during the night — and it's our reaction to these awakenings that determine how easy it will be to fall back to sleep (or whether we even remember waking at all).<br /><br />Related video:<br /><br />Waking during the night is normal and isn't something you should be worried about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=329oFzXmwEM<br /><br />Most of us will also spend some time awake in bed before our alarm goes off or before we get out of bed in the morning. This is important to recognize because when we compare our sleep to the sleep of people who give no thought to their sleep, they will consider that 100% of the time they spend in bed is spent asleep — and this isn't accurate!<br /><br />Finally, how you feel first thing in the morning isn't always a good reflection of how well you slept. Many people take a while to get going in the morning, even after a great night of sleep.<br /><br />Related video: <br /><br />Why you shouldn't evaluate sleep based on how you feel first thing in the morning or mid-afternoon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU1BAYjztlE<br /><br />▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel (and be sure to click the notification bell afterward so you don't miss any videos): http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL5LsLUeVA2j_Vsl5625shQ?sub_confirmation=1<br /><br />My name is Martin Reed and I am the founder of Insomnia Coach®. I offer sleep coaching services that give people with insomnia all the skills and support they need to enjoy better sleep for the rest of their lives. I also offer a free two-week sleep training course for people with insomnia at https://insomniacoach.com/sleep-training/?ref=youtube110519<br /><br />You can also find me here:<br /><br />Website: https://insomniacoach.com<br />Twitter: https://twitter.com/insomniacoach<br />Facebook: https://facebook.com/insomniacoach<br />Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myinsomniacoach/<br /><br />All content found on the Insomnia Coach YouTube channel is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice or medical treatment 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 other licensed healthcare provider. All content is provided as is, and without warranties.<br /><br />#insomnia<br />#sleep

Insomnia Coach 3.6K views November 5, 2019 9:01 pm

When you have chronic insomnia, it’s so important to have a good understanding of what “normal” sleep actually is because incorrect beliefs or assumptions about sleep can actually perpetuate insomnia since we can set ourselves unachievable and unrealistic goals.

When we struggle (or fail) to reach these goals, we can believe something is seriously wrong and that we’re destined to live with insomnia forever.

First of all, it’s important to recognize that it’s quite unlikely you need eight hours of sleep. We all have a unique sleep requirement — and, for many people, this tends to be closer to six hours than eight hours.

Related video:

What do shoe sizes and sleep requirements have in common? (Hint: We are all different): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar1y9y0TvJY

It’s also important to understand that it’s normal to take a while to fall asleep after getting into bed. Most people will take up to half an hour to fall asleep when they get into bed — so try to avoid putting pressure on yourself to fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow!

Related video:

Falling asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow and not waking during the night isn’t normal! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oHMHq9K_C4

Awakenings are a normal part of sleep. It is completely normal to wake during the night — and it’s our reaction to these awakenings that determine how easy it will be to fall back to sleep (or whether we even remember waking at all).

Related video:

Waking during the night is normal and isn’t something you should be worried about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=329oFzXmwEM

Most of us will also spend some time awake in bed before our alarm goes off or before we get out of bed in the morning. This is important to recognize because when we compare our sleep to the sleep of people who give no thought to their sleep, they will consider that 100% of the time they spend in bed is spent asleep — and this isn’t accurate!

Finally, how you feel first thing in the morning isn’t always a good reflection of how well you slept. Many people take a while to get going in the morning, even after a great night of sleep.

Related video:

Why you shouldn’t evaluate sleep based on how you feel first thing in the morning or mid-afternoon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU1BAYjztlE

▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel (and be sure to click the notification bell afterward so you don’t miss any videos): http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL5LsLUeVA2j_Vsl5625shQ?sub_confirmation=1

My name is Martin Reed and I am the founder of Insomnia Coach®. I offer sleep coaching services that give people with insomnia all the skills and support they need to enjoy better sleep for the rest of their lives. I also offer a free two-week sleep training course for people with insomnia at https://insomniacoach.com/sleep-training/?ref=youtube110519

You can also find me here:

Website: https://insomniacoach.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/insomniacoach
Facebook: https://facebook.com/insomniacoach
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myinsomniacoach/

All content found on the Insomnia Coach YouTube channel is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice or medical treatment 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 other licensed healthcare provider. All content is provided as is, and without warranties.

#insomnia
#sleep