Insomnia
- Do you:
- Have difficulty sleeping on at least half the days of the week?
- Feel tired, irritable or have difficulties concentrating during the day?
- Do you find yourself lying awake at night, ruminating about the events of the day?
- Do you toss and turn, worrying about what you have to do in the morning or what you did earlier in the day?
|
If so, you are not alone. In fact, insomnia is the most common sleep disorder faced by the general population today. If left untreated, chronic insomnia reduces quality of life and increases risk for psychiatric and medical disease, especially depression and anxiety. The most common complaint in those who have trouble sleeping is having a “noisy mind.” Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it seems like you cannot silence all the internal dialogue. So what do you do when your mind is spinning and your thoughts just won’t stop? |
Credit: amindfulway
|
CBT for insomnia (CBT-i) is the most effective treatment for these problems. It has been shown to work as well as sleep medications and produce longer-lasting effects. Research shows that it also works well for those whose insomnia is experienced in the context of anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. The goal of treatment is to help you get better sleep. We help you learn about your sleep patterns and make changes to improve your sleep.
Our approach, "CBT for insomnia (CBT-i)" contains helpful exercises and insights into how you can better manage your thoughts at bedtime, and finally get some sleep. Though insomnia may be caused by any number of things, it is primarily sustained by the development of poor sleep habits (such as varying sleep-wake schedule, daytime napping, and spending excessive time in bed) as an attempt to manage the problem. This treatment program uses cognitive-behavioral therapy methods to correct those poor sleep habits. CBT has been proven in multiple studies to improve sleep hygiene by reducing time spent in bed before sleep onset, reducing time spent awake after first sleep onset, and increasing the quality and efficiency of sleep.Traditional treatment for insomnia is usually focused on medications that promote sedation rather than on the behavioral causes of insomnia. Unfortunately, medication can often lead to addiction and a host of other side effects. This is a great approach for anyone who is looking for effective therapy to treat insomnia without the use of medication.
At the beginning of treatment, you will work with your therapist to complete a diary for two weeks so you can get to know your habits. We will give you feedback on how to improve your sleep, and you can make a plan for sleeping better. You will then try out your plan and work with your therapist to make adjustments, as needed. Your therapist will also show you evidence-based strategies to help increase energy during the day, sleep more deeply, and re-initiate sleep after hot flashes, panic attacks or nightmares.
Our approach, "CBT for insomnia (CBT-i)" contains helpful exercises and insights into how you can better manage your thoughts at bedtime, and finally get some sleep. Though insomnia may be caused by any number of things, it is primarily sustained by the development of poor sleep habits (such as varying sleep-wake schedule, daytime napping, and spending excessive time in bed) as an attempt to manage the problem. This treatment program uses cognitive-behavioral therapy methods to correct those poor sleep habits. CBT has been proven in multiple studies to improve sleep hygiene by reducing time spent in bed before sleep onset, reducing time spent awake after first sleep onset, and increasing the quality and efficiency of sleep.Traditional treatment for insomnia is usually focused on medications that promote sedation rather than on the behavioral causes of insomnia. Unfortunately, medication can often lead to addiction and a host of other side effects. This is a great approach for anyone who is looking for effective therapy to treat insomnia without the use of medication.
At the beginning of treatment, you will work with your therapist to complete a diary for two weeks so you can get to know your habits. We will give you feedback on how to improve your sleep, and you can make a plan for sleeping better. You will then try out your plan and work with your therapist to make adjustments, as needed. Your therapist will also show you evidence-based strategies to help increase energy during the day, sleep more deeply, and re-initiate sleep after hot flashes, panic attacks or nightmares.