What is insomnia therapy?
Insomnia therapy is a tailored form of treatment that addresses chronic sleep disturbances, which can include problems with falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restorative sleep. The goal of Insomnia therapy is to enhance sleep quality, establish healthy sleep routines, and, in turn, improve an individual's overall well-being by mitigating and reducing the adverse effects of persistent sleep deprivation.
How does insomnia therapy work?
Insomnia therapy combines therapeutic approaches, with a central focus on cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) to modify sleep-disrupting thoughts and behaviors, integrating techniques like stimulus control, sleep restriction, and relaxation training. Thriveworks Abingdon therapists will also emphasize sleep hygiene education and may include mindfulness and relaxation exercises to improve sleep quality, equipping individuals with effective strategies to enhance their sleep and overall well-being.
Symptoms of insomnia
Common symptoms of insomnia include:
- Having a hard time falling asleep
- Waking up in the middle of the night
- Waking up earlier than desired
- Bedtime anxiety about sleeplessness
- Grogginess during the day due to lack of sleep
Should I go to therapy for insomnia?
Symptoms of insomnia often look different for everyone; however, there are some warning signs that can signal the need for insomnia therapy. These include feeling anxious about bedtime, bedtimes getting later and later, energy peaking at night rather than during the day, and drastic caffeine consumption in order to stay awake.
What is the best therapy for insomnia?
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is one of the most effective forms of therapy for treating insomnia, working to modify sleep-disrupting thoughts and behaviors through strategies like sleep hygiene and sleep restriction.
Is insomnia therapy conducted in person or online?
Insomnia therapy at Thriveworks Abingdon is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
How long should you go to therapy for insomnia?
The duration of insomnia therapy can vary based on the individual's needs and progress in treatment. Typically, it involves a short series of sessions over a few weeks to a couple of months, with the number and length of sessions decided in consultation with the therapist. Some experience better sleep within this time, while others choose longer therapy to address complex sleep issues or maintain good sleep habits.
How long does CBT take to work for insomnia?
Many people start to see improvements in their sleep patterns after about two to three weeks of CBT-I. However, the duration and effectiveness will differ for everyone, so don't worry if it takes a bit longer to have a strong effect.
Need more help deciding?
Do you struggle to sleep? Most people have dealt with at least mild insomnia at one point or another in their lives. While it can be nothing but an inconvenience at first, insomnia can turn into a major problem as it gets worse and worse. You need sleep to feel your best, and it is extremely frustrating to lay your head down on the pillow at night only to lay awake for hours. If you are currently struggling with some degree of insomnia, looking for help through counseling for insomnia may be the right way to get your sleep life back on track.
Seeking out help for your sleep problems is one of the best ways to overcome this obstacle in life. If you don’t tell anyone about your sleep difficulties, or if you just pretend that it isn’t a problem, you could find that the issue continues to worsen over time. Instead of giving away much of your life to the problem of insomnia, be proactive about the situation and seek out a resolution as soon as possible.
People all around Bristol struggle with the problem of insomnia, and many deal with more than one of the issues below as a result:
- Poor reaction times, whether driving or going about other parts of day to day life
- Irritability, short temper
- Inability to think clearly while at work or school
- Weight gain
- Many more
Insomnia deserves to be treated like the serious condition that it is. If you had any other kind of health problem going on in your life, you would certainly go see a professional to have it resolved. Your approach should be much the same when it comes to sleep problems. Counseling for insomnia has the potential to help you work out of this issue, so that you can get back to living your life as usual.
If you are struggling with insomnia in or around Bristol, please contact us today to learn more about our insomnia therapy services. We hope to have the opportunity to help you sleep—give us a call or book online to get started.
