Sleep & Insomnia
When sleep becomes the problem instead of the solution, it can affect nearly every part of life. Many people with chronic insomnia spend more time worrying about sleep than actually sleeping. Nights become frustrating, mornings become exhausting, and it can start to feel like your entire day revolves around whether you'll sleep tonight.
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The good news is that insomnia is highly treatable.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is considered the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia and is recommended before long-term sleep medication by major medical organizations.
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My goal is to help you understand what's keeping insomnia going, rebuild confidence in your body's ability to sleep, and help you wake feeling rested again.
Why Sleep Gets Stuck - Understanding the Cycle of Insomnia
Many people assume insomnia is caused by not making sleep a priority.
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In reality, the opposite is often true.
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The more important sleep becomes, the harder it can be to achieve. People often find themselves spending more time in bed, watching the clock, changing bedtime routines, sleeping in, napping, or worrying about whether they'll be able to function tomorrow.
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These strategies make sense - but they often unintentionally keep insomnia going.
One of my favorite parts of CBT-I is helping people understand that insomnia isn't a sign that their body has forgotten how to sleep. Often, it's a problem of a sleep system that has become disrupted and needs the right conditions to find its rhythm again.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia
(CBT-I)
CBT-I is the gold-standard treatment for chronic insomnia, recommended by major medical organizations as the first-line intervention. Unlike sleep medications, which often mask the problem, CBT-I addresses the root causes of sleep issues to provide long-lasting relief.
How CBT-I Works
- Cognitive Strategies: Identifying and reframing the thoughts and anxieties that keep you awake.
- Stimulus Control: Re-establishing the bed as a place for sleep and intimacy only.
- Sleep Restriction & Compression: Adjusting your time in bed to match your actual sleep ability, strengthening your body's natural sleep drive.
- Relaxation Training: Learning techniques to quiet the mind and body before rest.
Is CBT-I Right for Me?
CBT-I is an evidence-based approach that is effective for most adults struggling with sleep. It might be the right fit if you experience:
- Trouble falling asleep at the beginning of the night.
- Waking up frequently and struggling to drift back off.
- Waking up earlier than desired and feeling unrefreshed.
- Worrying about sleep and feeling anxious as bedtime approaches.
- Daytime impairments like fatigue, irritability, or lack of focus.
Resources
Better Sleep Starts Here
