As we enter the new year and find ourselves reflecting, it is our hope that this article helps you sleep
and rest better if you have been struggling with insomnia. People with insomnia often experience irregular sleep times, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, early awakening, daytime fatigue, excessive napping….and the list goes on. In fact, current statistics show that [Read more…]
Sleep Hygiene: How to Sleep in a City That Never Does
In the fast-paced streets and schedules of New York City, it is no surprise that many New Yorkers find it difficult to get a restful night of sleep. To help you snooze successfully, here are some scientifically supported sleep hygiene tips to help you fall and stay asleep:
- Maintain regular bed and rise times. Try to go to sleep and to wake at regular times each day, including weekends. Given that weekend routines can often deviate from weekday routines, a good rule of thumb is to rise no more than 2 hours later on a weekend morning compared to weekday mornings. A second rule of thumb is to maintain strict rise times no matter the bed times. So that means no matter how late the party ended on Saturday night, you must still rise and shine as close to your regular rise time on Sunday morning! These two simple rules reset our circadian clock each morning and allow us to achieve consolidated sleep at bedtime throughout the week.
This is Why Sunday Night Insomnia Is a Thing (It’s Not Just Anxiety)
Many people with sleep difficulties say that Sunday night insomnia is a real problem for them. Why is Sunday night so tough for some people?
[Read more…]Why You Can’t Sleep, and 15 Fixes Not to be Missed
From time to time, most people find themselves muttering (or screaming) at 4:00 a.m., “why can’t I sleep?!” For some, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep can even become the norm. This is called insomnia — upsetting, disruptive, and a way of life for some. Insomnia can include trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, or not getting restful sleep at least three nights per week. (Trouble falling asleep is defined here as taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep. Trouble staying asleep is defined as being awake for more than 30 minutes during the night.)
[Read more…]Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
We all know that cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia is effective. But exactly who is it for? And what does it involve?
In my experience, patients who seek therapy for depression or anxiety often report problems with sleep. These problems usually fall into one (or more) of three categories: 1) difficulties falling asleep, 2) difficulties staying asleep, or 3) waking up earlier than intended. Any of these can have a real impact on one’s quality of life.
When Is the Right Time to Get Insomnia Treatment?
If insomnia is brought on by recent life stress like trouble at work or in a romantic relationship, it is called acute insomnia. Usually, this kind of short-term insomnia resolves itself and sleep patterns return to normal. However, if insomnia persists past a few weeks (chronic insomnia), it can exacerbate other problems. It can then evolve into a vicious cycle of a) sleeplessness and b) anxious thoughts about sleeplessness. When this is the case, insomnia treatment can be helpful.
[Read more…]