Insomnia Treatment | Sleep Disorder Treatment

a man talking counselling about addiction from lady psychologist

An Overview

Most of us go through sleep problems at one point of time or another. This is Sleep disorder which can impact mental health badly. Taking sleep disorder treatment helps in getting back to normal sleep cycle. Sleep can often be an emotional barometer for your current state so if you are stressed you might find that this affects your sleep. When sleep problems become a regular occurrence and have an impact on your daily life, you may be suffering from a sleep disorder. One of the most common types of sleep disorder is insomnia which manifests itself as unable to sleep or no sleep at night.

How Therapy Works

In most cases, insomnia can be relieved by addressing the causes appropriately.

Treatment for Sleep Counselling

If you think you are suffering from a sleep disorder it might be helpful to consult a psychologist. Psychological therapy and particularly cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can also be useful in helping you develop better sleep hygiene and effective strategies for managing your sleep.

Assessment and Diagnosis

The diagnosis of insomnia is made by the psychologist based on the following criteria: the complaint of difficulty in initiating sleep and/or maintaining sleep or non-restorative sleep that results in daytime impairment.

Causes

Insomnia is most commonly the result of stressful event(s)
Environmental disturbances (such as noise)
Extreme temperatures or caring for a newborn), or a disruption of the sleep/wake cycle due to jet lag.
Use of alcohol and stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine may cause poor sleep.

Signs & Symptoms

Common symptoms of insomnia include:

Difficulty falling asleep at night or getting back to sleep after waking during the night
Waking up frequently during the night
You need to take something (sleeping pills for example) in order to get to sleep
Sleepiness and low energy in the day
Sleep feels unrefreshing and you wake up feeling tired and low in energy There are also other types of sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and narcolepsy

Types

Insomnia: trouble falling asleep

Obstructive sleep apnea/sleep-disordered breathing: loud snoring, choking or gasping episodes during sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness that the patient may attribute to poor sleep Movement disorders in sleep; Restless legs syndrome, Circadian rhythm disorders: difficulty in falling asleep at a normal time and difficulty waking up in the morning.