Insomnia is a sleep problem that affects every aspect of your life. Because you're unable to get the rest your body needs, work, school, and social activities are nearly impossible.
Medications help with insomnia, but they don't tackle the root of the problem. One way to get the upper hand is through cognitive behavioral therapy specific to insomnia (CBT-I).
At Carolina Wellness Psychiatry, our team of three specialists provides medication management and psychotherapy for insomnia. They also offer these treatments for accompanying mental health problems like depression and anxiety.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 12% of American adults report being diagnosed with chronic insomnia. That means 12 out of every 100 people have difficulty sleeping.
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that causes disruptions in sleep and difficulty falling or staying asleep. It often leads to daytime fatigue and drowsiness as well as impaired cognitive function.
People with insomnia may have it for a short period, or it may recur chronically over months to years. Various factors influence insomnia, including stress, lifestyle habits, and mental health disorders.
Insomnia can be difficult to manage without the proper diagnosis and care. Treating the root of insomnia is the best way to alleviate symptoms and regain restful sleep.
When you're living with insomnia, you'll try anything to sleep – but most treatments cover up the real issue. Learning why you're unable to sleep and treating the underlying cause is the best way to get the upper hand on insomnia.
We offer cognitive behavioral therapy for patients with insomnia to address the causes of the problem. It's a type of psychotherapy that helps patients understand how their thoughts and feelings influence sleep.
CBT-I is a comprehensive treatment that may also involve medication management. Other aspects of CBT-I that help improve insomnia include:
Sleep restriction therapy is a technique that limits the amount of time you spend in bed to the amount of sleep you need. Over time, you increase the amount of time spent sleeping.
We teach you psychoeducation, which involves learning about sleep itself and how various external and internal stimuli cause insomnia.
Cognitive therapy is a significant aspect of CBT-I. It helps you identify sabotaging thoughts or beliefs that could be perpetuating insomnia. Once we identify these thoughts or feelings, we provide coping mechanisms and alternative perspectives to help alleviate insomnia symptoms.
We also provide you with relaxation techniques that help ease your mind before bed. Standard techniques we teach you include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness to help you achieve better rest.
Stimulus control therapy has you only use your bed for sex and sleep, avoiding it for any other activities. It teaches your brain that the bed is made for rest, helping you associate it with better sleep.
Most people need at least six to eight sessions to see the best results. We recommend this treatment for people with chronic insomnia, meaning you have trouble sleeping at least three nights per week for three months.
CBT-I is highly effective in treating patients with chronic insomnia. According to the Sleep Foundation, up to 80% of people with insomnia experience improvement in their sleep patterns.
CBT-I is most effective when you take in all aspects of the treatment. It's more effective than sleep medications alone and addresses the mental or physical issues that lead to insomnia.
The benefits of CBT-I are numerous and include taking less time to fall asleep and waking up less during sleep. It also leads to more time spent in deep sleep, resulting in less daytime fatigue and grogginess.
Call Carolina Wellness Psychiatry today to schedule an appointment for insomnia treatments, or use our online booking feature to request a consultation with our team.
