Treating Insomnia & Sleep Health
Do you find it hard to fall asleep at night?
Maybe you find yourself waking in the middle of the night unable to return to a night of restful sleep and spend hours tossing and turning. Do you feel like you’ve tried everything and nothing helps?
Sleep aids can offer moderate relief, but the side effects are often unpleasant and can become debilitating over time. You may find yourself feeling tired through the day, struggling to stay awake at work. You might be more irritable, depressed, or anxious as night after night you fight to get good sleep.
This sleepless cycle is not only distressing but has real, serious implications for your health and wellbeing. Chronically sleep-deprived people have a higher risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.
The real problem is that trying to sleep doesn’t work. The more you fight to sleep, the less likely it is you will actually be able to sleep.
What if I told you that you can learn to sleep again?
That’s right – sleep is a learned behavior. While sleep is often considered the most natural thing in the world, you might have developed small habits and patterns that are preventing you from getting the precious sleep you need.
Many myths surround sleep. Some of these include “people need 8 hours a night,” “you can make up for lost sleep on the weekends,” and that “marathon sleep after a series of restless nights is restorative.”
A lot of counselors focus on sleep hygiene as the “cure” for insomnia, but the truth is that sleep hygiene isn’t enough. People who suffer from night after night of sleeplessness have probably already mastered sleep hygiene.
Call me now at (360) 565-5506
or click below to schedule your free initial consultation.
If you feel more comfortable using a contact form, click here to send me a message.
What is sleep hygiene?
Sleep hygiene is making sure that your room is dark and comfortable and the environment cool and quiet. You avoid caffeine and alcohol late in the day and avoid eating a heavy meal just before bed. You might have some nighttime rituals such as taking a bath or shower to help your body relax at the end of a long day.
Even after doing all these things, the minute you hit the pillow you might find yourself wide awake. Or if you struggle to sleep through the night or have early morning awakenings, you might feel like there isn’t anything you can do before bed that will help you sleep through the night.
If you are tired of being tired, I can help.
Together, we will go beyond sleep hygiene to figure out how much sleep your body requires. That’s right – everyone’s sleep needs are different. We will create a personalized plan just for you that takes your lifestyle into account. Many people start sleeping better the first week of treatment.
I have been helping people who have experienced insomnia since the first day I entered the counseling field. I have a wide range of therapeutic tools and do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy.
As a counselor, I have continued to invest my time and training in understanding and treating insomnia. I use evidence-based treatments, which is just a fancy way of saying I am using tools and techniques repeatedly proven to work.
There are things you can do right now to start feeling better.
Start with simple, basic, everyday activities and make them a priority. Studies show that light activity throughout the day can increase sleepiness at night.
Sleepiness is the key ingredient to getting a good night’s sleep. Avoid taking naps during the day. Your sleep cycle actually starts when you wake up, not in the evening before you go to bed. Daytime napping disrupts your body’s ability to build up the sleep drive necessary for you to sleep well.
If you find yourself unable to fall asleep when you go to bed or if you wake in the middle of the night, get out of bed! It is normal to think if you just lay still and quiet long enough, you will fall back to sleep.
Trying to sleep does not work! If you are not able to sleep within 30 minutes, get up and get out of bed. Only return to bed once you feel tired enough to fall back to sleep.
Call me now at (360) 565-5506
or click below to schedule your free initial consultation.
If you feel more comfortable using a contact form, click here to send me a message.
