What is insomnia?

Everyone has an occasional sleepless night, tossing and turning, and estimating the amount of sleep you could get if you fell asleep right now. However, if you have sleepless nights more than three times a week, you may have chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia doesn’t just leave you sluggish and fatigued during the day, it can contribute to a surprising range of health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes.

What causes insomnia?

A wide range of factors contributes to insomnia. For example, some people experience insomnia when they’re under stress. If you work irregular hours, swing shifts, or have to travel for work, your circadian rhythms may be disrupted, which can interfere with your sleep. Poor sleep habits, like using your cell phone or tablet right before bed or having a television in your bedroom, can also interfere with your sleep.

Additionally, mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder can all contribute to insomnia. When your thoughts are racing or your anxiety levels are high, your body may release hormones that prevent you from sleeping well.

How is insomnia treated?

When you meet with to talk about your insomnia, we provide a comprehensive assessment of your physical and mental health. We mayorders blood work and other tests to identify any conditions that contribute to your sleeplessness.

Once we understand your needs, Point of View Mental Health creates a personalized treatment plan to resolve the conditions contributing to your insomnia. While your treatment program is fully personalized for your needs, we typically combine treatment modalities to approach your health from several angles.

For example, in addition to treating any mental or physical health conditions that contribute to your insomnia, we helpyou make lifestyle modifications to your exercise, diet, and sleep practices to help improve your sleep. We may also recommend practicing meditation to quiet and relax your mind. In some cases, medication or supplements are prescribed to help you get more high-quality sleep.