David B. Wohlsifer, Ph.D., LCSW

You Are Not Alone

For millions of people in the United States today, problems with sleep are a nightly occurrence. When you try to function without sufficient sleep, in a constant state of fatigue, every aspect of daily life becomes more challenging. Staying awake while driving, being able to work and concentrate with full attentiveness, as well as being available to friends and family all become more difficult and less enjoyable. Continuous deficits in sleep affect mood, memory, as well as many other aspects of one’s physical and emotional health. One’s relationships can be affected as well.

Getting The Right Help

Frequently people do not seek adequate help for insomnia. Many people wrestle with insomnia for so long that they assume being unable to sleep well is “just the way they are.”

Not all sleep problems need to be handled with medication. Non-pharmacologic remedies have proven successful for insomnia. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is particularly effective (non-pharmacological) treatment approach to insomnia as well as other sleep related issues.

A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach for Insomnia and other Sleep Related Problems

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be a solution for sleep related issues. CBT is a model of psychotherapy that examines the relationship between the patient’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. A primary intervention of the CBT therapist is to help the patient identify what they are thinking and then how their thoughts are causing them to feel and act a certain way. In the case of insomnia, the CBT therapist works with the patient to examine what their thoughts are when they go to bed, and how those thoughts might be contributing to the insomnia or other issues impairing sleep. In essence CBT helps the patient “turn their mind off” or as I like to say “stop the committee meeting in your head when you lay down at night” so they can relax and get the rest they need. CBT can be adapted for children and teens that are having sleep problems as well.

Listen to your body. When you have Stress, Worry, Anxiety, Pain, Money Problems, Relationship Issues, Depression, Family concerns, Work related Challenges, as well as most other emotional issues they often present as barriers to sleep.

Take the first step in improving the quality of your sleep as well as overall health and give me a call at 561-409-9701.