Insomnia

So what is insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling asleep at night, waking up early in the morning without being able to fall asleep again, waking up frequently during the night, and also switching day and night ( “night waking”).

What are the causes of insomnia?

The form of sleep has changed fundamentally several times historically. A night’s sleep in a closed room, to which we have a limit of 8 hours with a bit of exaggeration, is a relatively modern matter and we owe it to the industrial revolution. At that time, the work was still physically demanding. Today, most people engage in mental work. When we go to bed at night, it is not our exhausted body that helps us fall asleep, it is instead our mind that does not allow us to sleep. Older age, pain,  mental or neurological diseases, a change in time zones, and unsuitable sleeping environments also contribute to insomnia.

How is chronic insomnia treated?

Insomnia is not necessarily related to a restless mind, it can be a side effect of other diseases. If you have suffered from insomnia for a long time, it is advisable to entrust yourself to a general practitioner. Tehy may then send you to a sleep laboratory, where a comprehensive examination will take place.

Drug treatment is the last choice for chronic insomnia and only serves to restore the natural sleep rhythm.

How can I help myself if I suffer from insomnia?

It is ideal that you understand what is causing it. These causes are different for each individual. There may be current stress in the background (transient or acute insomnia), or it may be the result of a long and exhausting lifestyle (chronic insomnia). The first aid is to follow the rules of appropriate sleep hygiene (fresh air in the room, the absence of caffeine and alcohol, quiet activity before bedtime, etc.). If you have already tried these solutions and still have not had a good night’s sleep, psychotherapy may be an ideal choice.

How to treat insomnia with psychotherapy?

The first benefit psychotherapy will give you is probably to reduce the stress that many “sleeplessers” experience before falling asleep. They are worried about whether they will fall asleep, when they will wake up and how they will manage in the morning for the rest of the day. It will help you take a close look at the patterns of your sleep patterns and find connections between apparent details that often affect sleep.

It also offers techniques that you can try yourself before going to bed. But what is most valuable about psychotherapy? It teaches us to approach ourselves as an individual, a unique personality. Sleep pressure that lasts “from-to” can stop working at a certain age. Sometimes it turns out that it is enough to accept your needs – to welcome an afternoon siesta to your life. Instead of rolling in bed early in the morning you might want to just start a  workout or go straight to work.

How can online psychotherapy help me if I deal with insomnia?

An online psychotherapist will provide you with all the services you would receive in a standard in-person session. The advantage is that you connect directly with a therapist who is an expert on your topic. Precise targeting can expedite the process of finding a balance in your life. In addition, you can complete the session directly from the comfort of home, which is an ideal ally in the fight against insomnia, you can pleasantly continue to sleep and make the most of its possibilities.