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 Marietta 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 Marietta 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?
Counseling for Insomnia – Therapists and Counselors in Marietta, GA
There are many physical and mental causes of insomnia, and many of them can be addressed and remedied with the help of an experienced counselor in Marietta. If you are struggling with insomnia or other sleep problems, reach out to Thriveworks marietta. We’re here to help.
What Is Counseling for Insomnia Like?
As someone who fights some degree of insomnia, you probably don’t need to be reminded of how many side effects can be experienced when sleep is at a minimum. Do the points on the list below look familiar?
- Irritability
- Inability to focus on basic tasks
- Weight gain
- Impatience
- Drowsiness in the middle of the day
You may be suffering from those side effects and more if you are having trouble getting a good night’s sleep. It’s hard to enjoy your day-to-day life without getting enough sleep to function properly, so you should be looking for a solution to your insomnia problem as soon as possible.
One potential solution is the insomnia counseling that we offer here in Marietta. Our qualified counselors in Marietta will be happy to take the time to learn about your specific case, and they can then offer their suggestions for helping you sleep once again. There are no guarantees that therapy is going to be the right treatment to get you back to sleep, but it is a great place to start. Rather than feeling like you are all alone in the world when it comes to dealing with insomnia, you can have a qualified and experienced counselor on your side.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Addressing Insomnia
In order to change your sleep patterns, you’ll have to make some changes while awake. A night of sleeplessness is one thing, but multiple nights over time can reinforce the belief that you “just don’t sleep well.” By making changes to your behavior, you’ll retrain your subconscious out of that negative belief and improve your sleep patterns.
Some techniques include:
- Setting a consistent bedtime and wake time. Going to bed at the same time each night gets your body in the habit of falling asleep at the same time every day. The same applies to setting the alarm for the same time daily, even on weekends.
- Sleep restriction: it may sound odd, but by restricting the time you spend in bed, you’ll actually become extra tired, which will make sleeping the next night easier. After your sleep patterns improve, the time spent in bed will be gradually increased.
- Caffeine and alcohol reduction. Removing the stimulus that is caffeine may seem like an obvious step to take, but alcohol, despite being a depressant, actually leads to more disruptive sleep (Mann).
- Increased exercise.
- Adjusting your sleep environment. Ideally, your bedroom should be dark and cool, without a television.
- Relaxation techniques, including meditation.
As with therapy for any other disorder, counseling for insomnia is not an instant fix. But, with consistent effort, it is possible to see significant improvement.
Thriveworks Marietta Counseling for Insomnia
Being chronically tired from insomnia is exhausting and stressful. Thriveworks Marietta counselors have successfully helped many patients overcome insomnia and all its side effects, and we want to help you too. Learning more about our therapy services is as simple as picking up the phone and giving us a call. Once you decide to take that step, we will be happy to speak with you regarding your treatment options, and we can explain more about exactly what it is that insomnia counseling can do. Thank you for your time, and we hope to work with you soon.
