Insomnia

When you have insomnia, no matter how much you might crave sleep, your body stubbornly stays awake. If you’re tired of suffering from insomnia every night, contact the Rein Center in Iowa City, Iowa. The practice’s highly experienced mental health experts offer comprehensive insomnia treatment using techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). Call the Rein Center or book an in-person or telehealth appointment online today for effective insomnia treatment.

What is insomnia?

Insomnia means finding it hard to fall asleep or frequently waking during the night and then being unable to get back to sleep. Some people with insomnia can fall asleep reasonably quickly but wake after a few hours and find it impossible to get any more sleep that night.

Short-term insomnia can happen when you’re excited or worried about a forthcoming event, and it’s often difficult to sleep when you have an acute illness like a cold or the flu. However, the sleeplessness should pass after a few days.

If you consistently struggle to get enough sleep, there may be an underlying cause that could benefit from medical treatment.

What problems does insomnia cause?

People with insomnia often have problems such as:

• Chronic fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Poor memory
• Irritability
• Depression
• Poor work or school performance
• Excessive daytime sleepiness

Insomnia can make your body crave sleep so much you start nodding off when working or driving, which could have devastating consequences. Consistently lacking sleep also increases your risk of serious health conditions, including high blood pressure, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes.

Why do I have insomnia?

Insomnia has numerous possible causes. Common ones include:

Stress

Excessive and prolonged stress might develop because of relationship issues, family conflicts, money worries, challenges at work, or other problems that constantly go through your head at night.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle habits often affect sleep. Drinking caffeinated beverages or alcohol in the evening can keep you awake at night. Using electronic devices like TVs and smartphones at bedtime can also make sleeping more difficult.

Environment

Your bedroom might be too hot, cold, or noisy or have too much light coming in. Your mattress and pillows may not be comfortable or supportive enough.

Chronic health conditions

Insomnia often develops when you have other health problems, such as:

• Congestive heart failure
• Restless legs syndrome
• Chronic pain
• Depression
• Anxiety

Around 50% of people affected by insomnia also suffer from mental health disorders.

How is insomnia treated?

After assessing your insomnia, your Rein Center therapist might recommend addressing any issues that might be causing it. These could include changing your environment and bedtime habits, learning stress management techniques like yoga and meditation, and improving chronic disease management.

Rein Center specializes in CBT-I, which helps you reduce negative thoughts that prevent sleep and learn techniques to help you sleep.

To learn more about using CBT-I for successful insomnia treatment, call the Rein Center or schedule a consultation online today.