“My problem is that I can’t sleep! Why do I need a mental health therapist?”
Rachel Freedland, LLMSW
“My problem is that I can’t sleep! Why do I need a mental health therapist?”
Good Question!
To make matters more confusing, many insomniacs are high functioning individuals and pride themselves in getting much done during their nighttime wake hours. However, studies show that insomnia is linked to anxiety, depression and lower productivity at work, as well as hypertension and diabetes to name a few.
What is CBT-I?
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) addresses the person’s unique causes for insomnia and empowers the individual to develop a healthy sleep plan – changing sleep habits and correcting incorrect beliefs about sleep and insomnia. In fact, the American College of Physicians recommends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) as the initial treatment for chronic insomnia disorder.
Generally, a CBT-I treatment plan involves 6-8 individual weekly sessions where a specific sleep diary is provided by the therapist and evaluated for progress. At each visit, the client and therapist collaborate to review feedback and work on sleep plan details.
Quick Tips for better sleep:
If you think you may have insomnia, here are 4 simple tips to try on your own:
- Keep a regular sleep schedule – Go to sleep and wake up every day at the same time.
- Engage in relaxing actions prior to bedtime- Stay away from activities that are stressful and cause anxiety.
- Avoid daytime naps – they are one of the most common barriers to a good night’s sleep.
- Avoid caffeine – especially close to bedtime.
And What if These Tips Don’t Work?
If these tips alone are not enough, reach out to a sleep specialist certified in CBT-I: the gold standard of sleep professionals. The statistics are telling of CBT-I’s great success in helping individuals sleep well and often without needing any sleep medications.
Happy sleeping!
