Possibly a silly thought Ebbie but have you asked those People who have told you to try sleeping 'rough' with them for a night what exactly they would expect you to gain from it?

You could well find that their answers to that will help give far reaching ideas/answers to some of the problems you are trying to deal with. At that time you could also ask some of the things that were bothering you about the idea.

Good luck whatever you decide. The ability to do such things depends on the mental outlook of the person involved - and I think I would wimp this one!