Insomnia
Quality sleep plays a crucial role in our physical and mental health, but getting said sleep isn’t always easy. If you regularly struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep or wake up earlier than you want to, you may be experiencing insomnia.
Insomnia can leave you feeling tired, irritable, or unfocused during the day. It can also cause you to worry about sleep, which can make it harder to relax when bedtime arrives.
The good news is that insomnia is treatable with the right support.
What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that involves ongoing sleep difficulties like struggling to fall asleep, stay asleep, or getting the right amount of sleep to feel rested.
You may be experiencing insomnia if you:
- Have trouble falling asleep at bedtime
- Wake up during the night and can’t fall back asleep
- Wake up earlier than you intended
- Wake up still feeling tired or not well-rested
- Have difficulty functioning during the day because of poor sleep
It is common to experience occasional sleep difficulties, but when these issues become chronic, it can start to affect your daytime functioning, mood, and overall quality of life.
What Causes Insomnia?
Common contributors to insomnia include:
- Stress related to work, relationships, or finances
- Changes in routines
- Anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions
- Chronic pain or physical health problems
- Hormonal changes associated with menopause
- Certain medications or substances
- Sleep disorders like sleep apnea
- Changes in sleep, including shift work or travel
Sometimes insomnia can occur during a stressful period and then resolves on its own. Other times, it can linger even after the original source of stress has improved. Sleep and mental health are also closely connected. Struggling to sleep can impact your mood, concentration, and emotional well-being. If you already experience anxiety or depression, this combination can make it even harder to get the rest you need.
In some cases, treating insomnia can help improve overall mental health and reduce co-occurring symptoms.
What Insomnia Can Feel Like Day to Day
Sometimes the hardest part of experiencing insomnia isn’t just about being tired. It can affect how you feel throughout the entire day.
You may experience thoughts like:
- “I’m exhausted but I can’t fall asleep.”
- “I wake up and immediately start worrying about how much sleep I’m not getting.”
- “I’m tired all day but am wide awake when it’s time for bed.”
- “I can’t concentrate because I’m so tired.”
- “I’m starting to worry about sleep itself.”
If sleep difficulties are affecting your daily life, you don’t have to simply learn to live with them. Treatment can help you break the cycle and develop healthier sleep patterns.
Insomnia Treatment at Sagent
While sleep issues may be frustrating, insomnia is a highly treatable condition, and it doesn’t always require medication to find relief. At Sagent, our providers who specialize in behavioral sleep medicine can help you understand the factors contributing to your sleep difficulties and develop strategies to improve your sleep.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a structured and evidence-based treatment specifically designed to address insomnia. CBT-I focuses on the thoughts, behaviors, and habits that can contribute to ongoing sleep difficulties.
In CBT-I, you may learn how to:
- Establish healthier sleep routines
- Change thoughts and beliefs that make sleep difficult
- Reduce behaviors that reinforce insomnia
- Create habits that support more consistent sleep
CBT-I typically requires several weeks of treatment and can be effective without sleep medication.
Behavioral Sleep Medicine
Behavioral sleep medicine is a specialty area that uses behavioral and psychological approaches to address sleep difficulties.
It can address circadian rhythm difficulties, nightmares, CPAP treatment adjustments, and other sleep-related needs.
Sleep and Lifestyle Strategies
Treatment can also include practical changes that support healthier sleep. You may work with your provider to adjust your sleep schedule, daily routine, sleep environment, caffeine, or substance use. The goal is to understand what’s getting in the way of sleep and develop strategies that work for your unique needs.
Medication Management
Sleep medication can be useful in some situations to help you find the relief you need. Your behavioral sleep provider can work as part of your care team to support behavioral strategies, while medication changes are managed safely by your prescriber.
Frequently Asked Questions
Occasional difficulty sleeping is common. Insomnia may be a concern when difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting enough sleep happens regularly and affects how you feel or function during the day.
Yes, CBT-I is a behavioral treatment specifically designed for insomnia and can be effective without medication. Depending on your individual circumstances, your provider can help you determine which treatment approach may be appropriate.
The length of insomnia treatment depends on your individual needs and the approach being used. Behavioral sleep medicine treatments, including CBT-I, are typically provided over several weeks.
