Tag: insomnia
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What Are Good Sleepers Actually Like?
Introduction I often hear my patients who have chronic insomnia talk about what they think a good sleeper should be like. In their perspective, they usually think of a good sleeper as somebody who goes to bed, falls asleep immediately, wakes up 8 hours later feeling refreshed and energized for the day. These beliefs typically…
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The Difference Between Acute And Chronic Insomnia
Introduction Although people often think of insomnia as a general sleep problem, it is important understand the difference between acute insomnia and chronic insomnia. Understanding which category you fall into is essential in deciding how to approach the problem and whether treatment may be necessary. Before we discuss acute and chronic insomnia in more detail,…
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Why Relaxation Doesn’t Work For Insomnia In The Long-Term
Introduction People with insomnia try everything under the sun to get sleep when they are in bed at night. Counting sheep, meditations, prayers, deep breathing, muscle relaxation exercises, relaxation tapes, suppressing thoughts, among hundreds – if not thousands – of other old wives’ tales. This is not to say that relaxation exercises are not effective…
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Why You Go To Bed Sleepy But End Up Wide Awake
It’s 11:47pm. You’re lying on the couch and re-watching an episode of Friends while munching on a bag of Sour Cream & Dill Lays chips. Your eyes are getting heavy, and you know it’s time for bed, because Joey’s explanation on why ‘moo point’ is the accurate terminology for certain facts that do not matter…
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Why Sleep Hygiene Doesn’t Work For Insomnia
Introduction When you bring your sleep problems to friends, family members, and even doctors, the most common answer is usually sleep hygiene. For many people (especially those who don’t struggle with sleep), sleep hygiene is seen as the ultimate panacea for sleep difficulties. In fact, one study found that sleep hygiene was among the top…
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Improving Sleep For People With Chronic Pain
The Relationship Between Pain and Insomnia Pain is tough to deal with. Chronic pain is even tougher because it is often a lifelong journey for many people. For some, managing their chronic pain is something requires a significant amount of patience, energy, and resources. One particularly big issue is the relationship between pain and sleep.…
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Should I choose medication or therapy for my insomnia?
Introduction When I am doing clinical work, my priority is always with the patient. And every patient is different – they each have their own varied lived experiences that come with a unique set of goals and beliefs. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to providing treatment recommendations. I am not in the…
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How the 8-hour sleep myth might be causing insomnia
The reality of sleep needs When I work with people with insomnia, one sleep goal I repeatedly hear from my patients is “I want to get 8 hours of sleep” or “if I could just get 8 hours of sleep, I would be so happy”. This is not surprising at all because many people have…
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Paradoxical Intention for Sleep Anxiety
The Insomnia Paradox It’s said that the dark is for dreaming,But for me, it’s a waking nightmare.And it goes on, and on, and on…Into eternity. It is the paradox of insomnia,The more I cry, the more it grows.The more I try, the further sleep goes.So it goes… To this eternal damnation, I have come to…
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The Three Causes of Insomnia and How to Fix Them
What is Insomnia Disorder? Depending on how we define insomnia, up to 50% of the population experiences some type of sleep problem. Insomnia disorder is defined as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early, at least 3 days a week, for a significant duration (>3 months). Insomnia is a 24-hour disorder and…
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