Insomnia is a sleep disorder. People with insomnia have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, and their poor sleep quality leads to chronically not feeling rested.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder. People with insomnia have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, and their poor sleep quality leads to chronically not feeling rested.
As a result, people with insomnia often describe themselves as having difficulty functioning and struggling to cope. In addition to causing problems with memory and concentration, insomnia can lead to other problems such as anxiety, irritability, and depression.
People who are suffering from insomnia often start to use alcohol or prescription medication, which may help them to sleep in the short term but could lead to substance use problems and/or addiction if used regularly over the long-run.
When insomnia occurs in the absence of any other medical or psychiatric condition or environmental cause, it is called primary insomnia. Secondary insomnia refers to insomnia that is related to another condition or environmental factors.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a well-established, evidence-based treatment. It can be an effective treatment for insomnia for people who are using sleep medications as well as people who are not.
In CBT-I, the psychologist and client work together to identify the factors contributing to the insomnia, usually by keeping a sleep diary or journal for a few weeks. Once the causes of insomnia have been identified, the client can begin to engage in experiments to discover ways to improve their sleep, including stimulus control, restricting time in bed, relaxation training, and cognitive techniques to identify and modify the thoughts that get in the way of a good night’s sleep.
CBT-I is an effective treatment for insomnia. However, because insomnia is often a sign or symptom of other medical and psychiatric problems, including some serious medical problems, it is important to get a proper diagnosis from a physician, psychiatrist or psychologist who has expertise in sleep disorders.
A proper and thorough assessment will allow the accurate diagnosis of primary insomnia, insomnia secondary to another condition, and primary insomnia associated with one or more conditions. An accurate assessment is the first step towards effective treatment.
CBT Associates is not an emergency or crisis service.
In the event of an emergency or if you are in crisis, you should call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
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