SLEEP DISTURBANCES (I.E., INSOMNIA)
Sleep is one of human’s essential needs to maximize our daily functioning. However, sleep can cause us trouble, making it difficult for us to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up too early. Sleep difficulties or disturbances are common especially in mood disorders, anxiety-related disorders, and trauma. In treating sleep difficulties, in addition to getting a medical check-up to rule out medical reasons for sleep disturbances, completing a sleep consultation with a mental health provider can be helpful to increase insight about our sleep patterns and disturbances, as well as building strategies to resolve it.
Signs/Symptoms of Sleep Disturbances/Insomnia:
Difficulties with falling asleep or keeping asleep
Waking up too early and being unable to return to sleep
Frequent vivid nightmares or distressing dreams
Persistent fatigue or low energy despite enough hours in bed
Sleepiness during the day
Trouble with concentration and memory
Irritability, mood swings, and/or increased anxiety
Psychoeducation about sleep difficulties
Sleep consultation to assess the nature of your sleep difficulties
Collaborate with psychiatrist to get medications prescribed to alleviate severe sleep disturbances
Use Evidence-Based Therapy approaches to address sleep disturbances, primarily Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Neurofeedback to help with sleep difficulties