What is Insomnia
Insomnia is defined as dissatisfaction with sleep quality or quantity due to difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, despite having adequate opportunity to sleep. Individuals who struggle with insomnia experience distress and/or impairment of functioning in one or more areas of life due to symptoms such as fatigue, low energy, difficulty concentrating, decreased performance at work or school, or mood disturbances. Insomnia can also lead to a worsening of other mental or physical health problems.
Insomnia can be acute (short term) or chronic (long term). Acute insomnia often occurs during a period of stress and resolves when the stressful situation passes. For example, a student may have trouble sleeping the night before a big exam, or an adult might have trouble sleeping after receiving bad news.
Chronic insomnia is defined as sleep disturbance that occurs at least three nights per week and lasts at least three months. Many factors can contribute to chronic insomnia, including medication changes, unhealthy sleep habits, changes to one’s environment, shift work, and chronic stress. Insomnia can also be secondary to another condition such as chronic pain or a mental health disorder.
Treatment for Insomnia
Insomnia can be treated using behavior therapy, medication, or both. CEH clinicians provide the gold standard behavioral treatment for insomnia, CBT-I, or, cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia. This treatment includes behavioral modifications to the patient’s sleep habits to improve sleep quantity and quality, changes to the patient’s environment that promote sleep and relaxation, and identifying and modifying problematic thoughts and beliefs about sleep. CBT-I also can address stressors in the patient’s life that may be contributing to sleep disturbances.