double bind

A double bind is a no-win scenario where you are either forced (or feel pressured) to do something you can't do on demand, or in a another situation, are penalized for what you do.

I'm in a double bind here: if I can't fall asleep now, then I'll be too tired to wake up tomorrow morning, and if I don't wake up, I'll be late for work and they'll fire me. And if I take sleeping pills, I for sure won't be able to wake up... I wish I could just fall asleep when I want to and get up when I want to! What a double-bind!

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