About one in four Americans develops insomnia each year. Insomnia is characterized by issues like difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, waking up too early, and feeling fatigued during the day.
Good quality sleep is essential for your health and wellbeing. And if you’re dealing with insomnia, you know how frustrating it can be to wake up tired day in and day out.
Our team at Boston Neurobehavioral Associates is here to help. Our therapists provide telehealth care for insomnia. Read on to find out what could be causing your sleeplessness and what you can do about it.
Insomnia has many causes, but there are a few common factors we see in our patients again and again.
Stress is possibly the most common cause of insomnia. When you get stressed, your body releases cortisol, a hormone that wakes you up. Chronic high stress levels mean high cortisol levels that make it difficult to wind down and fall asleep at night.
Anxiety is another common factor that contributes to insomnia. People with anxiety often experience racing thoughts or worries that are difficult to quiet, making it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Depression can also contribute to insomnia. If you have depression, you might experience changes in sleep patterns that fuel insomnia. A few of the most common sleep-related symptoms of depression are trouble falling or staying asleep, waking up too early, or sleeping too much (particularly during the day).
Another possible cause of insomnia is practicing poor sleep habits. Healthy sleep habits include establishing a bedtime routine and keeping a consistent sleep schedule. However, an irregular sleep schedule due to work, travel, or hobbies can make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep each night.
Certain substances can disrupt your body’s natural sleep patterns and fuel symptoms of insomnia. Alcohol, drugs, and even caffeine can interfere with sleep and lead to increased wakefulness at night.
Finally, certain medical conditions can affect your quality of sleep and fuel insomnia. Sleep apnea, chronic pain, and restless legs syndrome are just a few possible conditions that can seriously impact your ability to get quality sleep.
Sleep is essential, and fortunately, insomnia is treatable. Our team takes a comprehensive approach to treating insomnia and helping you feel better.
For many people, cognitive behavioral therapy can make a big difference in insomnia symptoms. Our therapists can help you identify the factors that contribute to your insomnia, and then develop a personalized treatment plan to address those factors.
Therapy can help you manage stress, and it’s an effective treatment option for anxiety, depression, and many other mental health conditions. Depending on your situation, we may also recommend medication to improve your mental health and quality of sleep.
Along with therapy, we may recommend other strategies like:
Insomnia is frustrating and chronic lack of sleep can be debilitating. Fortunately, the right treatment can help you start sleeping better and reduce the impact insomnia has on your daily life.
Contact Boston Neurobehavioral Associates to schedule a telehealth appointment and start getting help for your insomnia today.
