How to know if you are fatigued rather than sleepy (and why it matters)

YouTube Video VVVMNUxzTFVlVkEyal9Wc2w1NjI1c2hRLnpqMkVUOEx0UDdB

Fatigue is a very real problem for people with chronic insomnia — but when this fatigue is mistaken for sleepiness, it can become even harder to get rid of insomnia and improve sleep.<br /><br />We typically use the words "tired", "fatigued", and "sleepy" interchangeably — but sleepiness is very different from fatigue. <br /><br />Related videos: <br /><br />Daytime fatigue is caused by more than just a bad night of sleep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAecAVm3a-o<br /><br />How CBT-I techniques such as sleep restriction and stimulus control can reduce daytime fatigue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMHjA7OHhYo<br /><br />Fatigue is a feeling of being worn-out. When we are fatigued, we can find it hard to get motivated, and we will likely want to conserve energy during the day. <br /><br />Sleepiness is more to do with finding it hard to stay awake. If we are very sleepy, we will typically fall asleep shortly after getting into bed.<br /><br />If we go to bed when we are fatigued rather than sleepy, we will find it hard to sleep. This can lead to frustration and anxiety, strengthen an association between the bed and wakefulness, and perpetuate insomnia.<br /><br />If you aren't sleepy when you go to bed, it's completely normal that you won't sleep. It's important, therefore, to only go to bed at night when you feel sleepy enough for sleep. If you are finding it hard to identify sleepiness cues, you will likely find cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) techniques to be very helpful.<br /><br />Related videos:<br /><br />Why you should stay out of bed until you feel sleepy even when following a short sleep window: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Av2p-ksNLI<br /><br />What to do when you feel sleepy early in the evening but don't feel sleepy when it's time for bed<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o-y80hs16c<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=youtube072619<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

How to know if you are fatigued rather than sleepy (and why it matters)

Insomnia Coach 2.5K views July 27, 2019 3:04 am

Fatigue is a very real problem for people with chronic insomnia — but when this fatigue is mistaken for sleepiness, it can become even harder to get rid of insomnia and improve sleep.

We typically use the words “tired”, “fatigued”, and “sleepy” interchangeably — but sleepiness is very different from fatigue.

Related videos:

Daytime fatigue is caused by more than just a bad night of sleep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAecAVm3a-o

How CBT-I techniques such as sleep restriction and stimulus control can reduce daytime fatigue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMHjA7OHhYo

Fatigue is a feeling of being worn-out. When we are fatigued, we can find it hard to get motivated, and we will likely want to conserve energy during the day.

Sleepiness is more to do with finding it hard to stay awake. If we are very sleepy, we will typically fall asleep shortly after getting into bed.

If we go to bed when we are fatigued rather than sleepy, we will find it hard to sleep. This can lead to frustration and anxiety, strengthen an association between the bed and wakefulness, and perpetuate insomnia.

If you aren’t sleepy when you go to bed, it’s completely normal that you won’t sleep. It’s important, therefore, to only go to bed at night when you feel sleepy enough for sleep. If you are finding it hard to identify sleepiness cues, you will likely find cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) techniques to be very helpful.

Related videos:

Why you should stay out of bed until you feel sleepy even when following a short sleep window: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Av2p-ksNLI

What to do when you feel sleepy early in the evening but don’t feel sleepy when it’s time for bed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o-y80hs16c

▶ 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=youtube072619

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