When you have insomnia, don't compare your sleep or progress during CBT-I with anyone else's

YouTube Video VVVMNUxzTFVlVkEyal9Wc2w1NjI1c2hRLkdtOHB3dEF1WGVV

So many people with chronic insomnia like to compare themselves to others. Unfortunately, this is not helpful when it comes to getting sleep back on track.<br /><br />In my experience, the most common way people with insomnia do this is to compare their sleep duration with the sleep duration of friends, family, or other acquaintances.<br /><br />Related video: What do shoe sizes and sleep requirements have in common? (Hint: We are all different) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar1y9y0TvJY<br /><br />This isn't helpful because everyone's sleep needs are different — so, just because you know someone who gets seven-and-a-half hours of sleep each night, that doesn't mean that you need seven-and-a-half hours of sleep. <br /><br />Related video: You do not need eight hours of sleep (aka the 8-hour sleep myth): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-RXLLhwejA<br /><br />People with insomnia are also very keen to compare themselves to others who are going through a course of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I).<br /><br />(More about CBT-I in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjkXES_oPTg)<br /><br />So many of my clients ask me how their progress compares to the progress of other clients. This is problematic because we are all different — we all respond to techniques differently, we all make progress differently, and we are all living different lives under different circumstances.<br /><br />If you worry that your progress doesn't compare well to that of others, you are likely to become worried about your progress — and this will make progress more difficult!<br /><br />So, I encourage you not to compare yourself to others. Focus on yourself. Don't compare your sleep or your progress against the sleep or progress of others.<br /><br />You are unique, so your response to CBT-I techniques will be unique, too.<br /><br />The key to success is to keep going and implement CBT-I techniques consistently. The more consistent you are with the techniques, the more consistent your sleep will become (more on that in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlfO0nm-WHY).<br /><br />▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel: 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=youtube052219<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 684 views May 22, 2019 10:41 pm

So many people with chronic insomnia like to compare themselves to others. Unfortunately, this is not helpful when it comes to getting sleep back on track.

In my experience, the most common way people with insomnia do this is to compare their sleep duration with the sleep duration of friends, family, or other acquaintances.

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

This isn’t helpful because everyone’s sleep needs are different — so, just because you know someone who gets seven-and-a-half hours of sleep each night, that doesn’t mean that you need seven-and-a-half hours of sleep.

Related video: You do not need eight hours of sleep (aka the 8-hour sleep myth): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-RXLLhwejA

People with insomnia are also very keen to compare themselves to others who are going through a course of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I).

(More about CBT-I in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjkXES_oPTg)

So many of my clients ask me how their progress compares to the progress of other clients. This is problematic because we are all different — we all respond to techniques differently, we all make progress differently, and we are all living different lives under different circumstances.

If you worry that your progress doesn’t compare well to that of others, you are likely to become worried about your progress — and this will make progress more difficult!

So, I encourage you not to compare yourself to others. Focus on yourself. Don’t compare your sleep or your progress against the sleep or progress of others.

You are unique, so your response to CBT-I techniques will be unique, too.

The key to success is to keep going and implement CBT-I techniques consistently. The more consistent you are with the techniques, the more consistent your sleep will become (more on that in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlfO0nm-WHY).

▶ Subscribe to the Insomnia Coach channel: 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=youtube052219

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