A couple years ago I was diagnosed with DSPD (delayed sleep phase disorder) after several months of non-24 hour sleep cycles.
The advice the specialist gave me was similar: don’t worry if you can’t sleep. If that means you have to get up and do something, do that and try again later. If you’re relaxed enough just laying there, do that.
I’ve not been able to rid myself of the timing issues that plague my sleep, but my secondary insomnia is completely gone, and most of it was because of my attitude toward sleep (and a little because of better sleep hygiene lengthening the cycle time of my delayed phase).
The advice the specialist gave me was similar: don’t worry if you can’t sleep. If that means you have to get up and do something, do that and try again later. If you’re relaxed enough just laying there, do that.
I’ve not been able to rid myself of the timing issues that plague my sleep, but my secondary insomnia is completely gone, and most of it was because of my attitude toward sleep (and a little because of better sleep hygiene lengthening the cycle time of my delayed phase).