In order to treat insomnia and chronic exhaustion, some specialists are now prescribing "sleep restriction," which allows people go to bed only for the amount of time they are already able to sleep, gradually increasing this time and thus reducing the number of hours spent tossing and turning. They also recommend patients not try too hard to slumber as this may be counter-productive:
"[G]ood sleepers enjoy reading in bed, and they are constantly frustrated that they are falling asleep. Whereas people with insomnia don't go to bed with any concept of staying awake, rather a determination to go to sleep. Trying too hard is a sure fire way of waking themselves up."Read more: Resistance is useful