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Insomnia Diagnosis and Treatment

6 Minutes

Edited & medically reviewed by THE BALANCE Team

Fact checked

CONTENTS

It’s past midnight, and you lie in bed with your eyes wide awake. As the clock keeps ticking, you toss and turn but fail to fall asleep no matter how hard you try. You may feel like you are cursed, but know that you are not alone in this struggle. Experts estimate that between 30 to 40 percent of adults across the world struggle with some degree of insomnia, a condition which makes it difficult to fall or stay asleep at night. Women, in particular, have a lifelong risk of insomnia which is around 40 per cent more than men.

There can be multiple reasons your brain isn’t letting you rest at night. The reason can be anything from a stressful event, such as getting fired from a job, or a long-term health issue, like depression. Regardless of the causative factor, it is important to remember that the initial brief periods of insomnia you develop occasionally can turn into a long-term issue if you do not seek help.

With the recent advances in modern science, you no longer need to suffer from this debilitating health issue. Multiple therapies, medications, and simple lifestyle changes are now available to retrain your mind and body and get the sleep you need to stay healthy and happy.

This article will help you learn how to treat insomnia using different medical and non-medical ways.

Treatment for long-term insomnia focuses on two main objectives, increasing the duration and quality of sleep and reducing the daytime impairments it causes. A typical treatment regimen for this issue includes at least one type of behavioral intervention, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT-i is one of the best insomnia therapies to exist by far, mainly because it does not pose any threats to the health that sleep medication may cause. It is carried out by a licensed psychologist well-trained in providing this particular type of treatment. CBT-I emphasizes the anxieties patients with insomnia develop about sleep and works on replacing them with healthier attitudes and beliefs.

A typical round of CBT-i treatment includes one or more of the following elements:

Sleep Hygiene and Education

Educating individuals about healthy lifestyle habits and sleep patterns can help them understand the reason behind their insomnia. Sleep hygiene, in particular, helps them adopt behaviors that improve their sleep quantity and quality while eliminating the ones that cause sleep troubles. For instance, a therapist may suggest setting fixed bedtime for going to sleep and waking up and following them every day. Similarly, they may advise against drinking alcohol or caffeinated products close to bedtime.

Stimulus Control

Many people with insomnia feel anxious when they think about falling asleep. This anxiety can not only exacerbate their symptoms but also prolong them. For such people, CBT-i focuses on stimulus control, a series of steps individuals can take to minimize these anxieties while developing a positive relationship with sleep. Some of these steps include lying down in bed only when you feel tired or setting the alarm to wake up at the same time every morning. Experts also advise insomniacs to get up and leave the bed if they cannot fall asleep within 10 minutes and return only when they truly feel tired.

Sleep Restriction and Compression

Sleep restriction and compression aim to improve the duration and quality of sleep by limiting the time you spend lying in bed. A CBT-i therapist goes through a client’s sleep diary records to determine the time they spend lying in bed awake compared to the time they spend sleeping. Based on these times, they may develop a process to help people curtail their time in bed and invest it more in sleep.

Relaxation

A handful of relaxation sleep can help people fight insomnia and get a peaceful sleep every night. Some examples include muscle relaxation, meditation, and breathing exercises. Biofeedback is another type of sleep insomnia cure that allows you to control different bodily functions based on metrics like heart rates, breathing, and blood pressure.

If CBT-i and its components fail to help you, a healthcare provider may explore other insomnia treatment options, including medications. Sleeping pills are usually the last resort for people who have tried every alternative technique without success. The approved medications for insomnia belong to different categories, including:

Benzodiazepines

These medications work well for short-term insomnia but are unsuitable for chronic cases because of their high potential for addiction. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies benzodiazepines as a Schedule IV controlled substance available only through a valid prescription.

Nonbenzodiazepines

These medications provide a similar level of relief as benzodiazepines but with lesser side effects and reduced risk of abuse. These drugs also belong to Schedule IV controlled substances.

Melatonin Agonists

These medications include melatonin, a natural hormone that induces relaxation and sleepiness in the body.

Orexin Receptor Antagonist

Orexins refer to neurotransmitters responsible for regulating the feelings of wakefulness and sleeplessness. Orexin receptor antagonist drugs act on this neurotransmitter to improve the onset or maintenance of sleep at night. As a Schedule IV drug, it is only available on prescription.

Off-Label Treatments

Certain medications intended to treat other health conditions can also help with insomnia. Some examples of these medications include antipsychotic drugs and antidepressants.

Your sleep therapist will show you how to observe and monitor your physiological functions such as breathing rate, heart rate, muscle tension.

Furthermore, you will be taught how to control the physiological signs of your body to ensure that they stay normal.

Note: Biofeedback therapy is often used for chronic insomnia treatment to optimize the efficacy of relaxation techniques for insomnia.

The main purpose of this therapy is to help you analyze the conditions of your body and the patterns that force you to stay awake.

To understand the best approach for your insomnia treatment, your physician might compare the two forms of treatments for insomnia.

Note: Oftentimes, both the treatments are simultaneously administered. However, that is only in the case of severe insomnia treatment.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of both insomnia treatments.

Firstly, CBT-I is a long-term insomnia treatment/ chronic insomnia treatment, while prescription sleeping pills are a short-term insomnia treatment.

Secondly, CBT-I alters the behavior and cognition of the person for better sleeping habits, while sleeping pills directly change the circadian rhythms by regulating hormones in the body and neurotransmitters in the brain.

Thirdly, CBT-I addresses the underlying causes of insomnia to remove the condition from the very root. On the other hand, sleeping pills merely mask the underlying cause and treat your insomnia.

Furthermore, sleeping pills can cause side effects like headaches, nausea, and daytime drowsiness. They can even cause you to become dependent or addicted to them.

Probably the only “con” of CBT-I is that it requires a significant amount of effort and time. Sleeping pills treatment requires minimal time and effort.

A luxury treatment program for insomnia is formulated to provide you a calm, familiar, euphoric, and peaceful environment.

This form of treatment tends to differ from a traditional treatment facility for insomnia when it comes to the quality of treatment, the skills of the professional staff, and the facilities provided.

At a luxury treatment center for insomnia, your therapies will be regulated, sustained, and continued for as long as your mind and body require them.

Furthermore, your sleep therapist at a luxury treatment center will revise the insomnia treatment plan for you after regular intervals as per any improvement or deterioration in your condition.

The best part is, an inpatient treatment facility that offers a luxury treatment program will prevent the side effects of pharmacotherapy and exploit the benefits of psychotherapy for insomnia.

This will ensure that the seed of insomnia is plucked out from the very root. Unlike a traditional treatment facility, a luxury treatment program will invest time to improve your condition and treat the cause of insomnia.

At Balance luxury treatment center, every client has a private villa, along with the following facilities:

Complete privacy
Driver
Personal housekeeping
A private chef
Complete access to a big garden, a pool, and other physical activities
Equine therapy
Music and art therapy
Yoga
Acupuncture
meditation

The door at our luxury, 5-star treatment facility is always wide open for you.

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FAQs

Is it insomnia if I do not have any difficulty falling asleep but wake up in the middle of the night and cannot go back to sleep?

Yes, waking up in the middle of the night, followed by an inability to go back to sleep, is a type of insomnia. Remember that insomnia can present in different forms- some may find it difficult to sleep, others may make up in the middle of their sleep routine, and others may wake up too early.

How can I know If I am getting adequate sleep?

On average, most adults need approximately 7 to 8 hours of sleep per day. Some signs that you may not be hitting this essential criterion include daytime sleepiness, moodiness, low energy levels, and poor concentration.

Can a medical condition cause insomnia?

Yes, certain medical disorders, especially the ones that cause nighttime discomfort or pain, can trigger insomnia. Some examples of such medical issues include fibromyalgia, arthritis, and heartburn. Depression and anxiety can also lead to difficulty falling asleep or maintaining it. Moreover, men with enlarged prostates also suffer from sleep disruptions due to an increased need to urinate throughout the night. Women’s hot flashes and other hormonal changes are other important contributors to insomnia. Since different types of health problems can disturb a good night’s sleep, the evaluation of chronic insomnia must also include a detailed analysis to rule out a possibility of an underlying medical disorder.

Is melatonin a good insomnia cure?

Many people commonly rely on melatonin supplements to sleep well at night. Melatonin is a hormone the brain naturally produces to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. When taken close to bedtime, this hormonal supplement signals the brain that the body is sleepy. Evidence suggests that melatonin can reduce sleep problems due to insomnia and disturbed circadian rhythm. However, it is still advisable to check with a healthcare professional before using this over-the-counter supplement on your own.

HOW THE BALANCE CAN HELP WITH Sleep

The Balance RehabClinic is a leading provider of luxury addiction and mental health treatment for affluent individuals and their families, offering a blend of innovative science and holistic methods with unparalleled individualised care.