Addressing The Culprit of Insomnia
Common Causes & Treatment Options
Insomnia is a common mental health condition affecting millions of Americans. Those with insomnia may have difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, have fragmented sleep, don’t feel well-rested in the morning, or have early morning awakenings. Sleep is an essential part of maintaining good physical and mental health.
It is vital to have good sleep quality in order to function on a daily basis. For those who cannot sleep well, they can often experience symptoms of inattention, irritability, fatigue, overeating, and difficulty concentrating.
How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Can Help Treat Insomnia
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for insomnia is a first-line treatment approach that works to correct thoughts and behaviors that interfere with your ability to sleep. A treatment plan is developed to help you apply these therapy principles on a daily basis. CBT addresses most underlying root causes of insomnia.
Other strategies used in treating insomnia include the following:
- Stimulus control – It’s common for insomnia to be triggered by environmental factors. This technique focuses on creating an environment conducive to sleep. This includes having a consistent time to go to bed and wake up, avoiding doing activities other than sleep in bed, and getting up if you can’t sleep within 20 minutes. By training the mind to associate your bed and bedroom with sleep alone, you can make falling asleep easier.
- Sleep hygiene – This technique involves changing behaviors that may interfere with your ability to sleep. Limiting the consumption of caffeine, cigarettes, and alcohol. Getting sufficient exercise earlier in the day. Eating healthy can help insomnia.
- Relaxation training – This technique focuses on relaxing the body and mind. Muscle relaxation, meditation, deep breathing exercises, and other mindfulness exercises can all help with insomnia.
Behavioral techniques & strategies and certain sleep aids can help assist in treating insomnia. Finding the root cause is very important. Untreated insomnia can become a chronic issue. Insomnia can worsen other mental health and physical health conditions as well. If you struggle with insomnia, Dr. Patel can help find the root cause of insomnia. Call us today!
