Insomnia

Insomnia is when one has persistent problems falling and/or staying asleep.

Insomnia typically leads to:

  • Lack of concentration
  • Slowness in activity
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Depression
  • Headaches
  • Irritability
  • And more.
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Treating Insomnia on Psychiatry.Live
Understanding Insomnia

Insomnia is when one has difficulty falling or staying asleep, no matter what the circumstance. So, what causes insomnia? There are many medical conditions that can affect one’s sleeping habits and they can lead to insomnia. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Nasal/sinus allergies
  • Asthma
  • Chronic pain
  • Lower back pain
  • Arthritis
  • Gastrointestinal problems i.e. acid reflux

Some researchers believe insomnia is a problem where your brain is unable to stop being awake. There are many things that could lead to this problem in your sleeping cycle. An extremely important factor is “sleep hygiene.”  Having good sleep hygiene means that you have a regular sleep schedule or consistent bedtime routine. Sleep hygiene involves a variety of habits and practices that are necessary to have good sleep quality and full daytime alertness. Our brains have a sleep and wake cycle and these cycles rely on consistency, length and quality.

There are easy ways to help fix our routines for sleeping better and there are things that you and your providers can discuss to clean up your sleep hygiene. Our therapists and psychiatrists can help determine the severity of your insomnia and decide if treatment is needed, or if a referral to a specialist is required.

Diagnosing and Treating Insomnia

During a video consult on Psychiatry.Live, your psychiatric practioner will ask you a series of targeted questions to better understand your insomnia. Your diagnosis will be based on duration, severity of symptoms and your medical history. Once a diagnosis has been made, your doctor will go over the risks and benefits of the various treatment plans.

Options for treatment of insomnia may include:

  • Relaxation training or progressive muscle relaxation
  • Stimulus control – limiting type of activities to promote sleep
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Over-the-counter medication
  • Prescribed Medication
  • Integrative Holistic Remedies

 

Conditions We Treat

 

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Brett Vasquez

Patient