Insomnia Program

blurb: Do you have trouble falling asleep at night? Do you wake up during the middle of the night and have difficulty returning to sleep? Does your child have trouble sleeping on their own or do they frequently come into your bedroom at night? Does sleep feel out of control? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are not alone. Estimates of chronic insomnia for adults and children range from 10 – 15% of the population.

What are the health risks of insomnia?

Lack of sleep can be a risk factor for both medical and psychiatric illnesses including:

Congestive heart failure
Hypertension
Diabetes
Depression
Anxiety
Substance abuse
Problems with concentration and memory

In addition, insomnia is also associated with increased risk for motor vehicle accidents and higher worker absenteeism.

How is Insomnia treated?

Alcohol and over-the-counter sleep aids are the most frequently used sleep treatments, yet there is little evidence supporting their effectiveness. In fact, most sleep experts agree that while alcohol can aid with falling asleep at times, it results in more awakenings during the night and an overall poorer quality of sleep.

In contrast, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an effective, safe, short-term, medicine-free insomnia treatment. CBT-I originated out of an effort to develop behavioral insomnia treatment (e.g. sleep hygiene, relaxation training), and in its present form is as effective as prescription sleep medications, without the risk of side effects or addiction.

To schedule an appointment with the NSC Insomnia Program Sleep Psychologist, please call (763) 452-3955.