Why can’t I sleep?
Insomnia is an unfortunately common condition in the U.S. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, approximately 30% of adults experience short-term insomnia, while almost 10% suffer from chronic insomnia. Women are more likely to experience insomnia compared to men, with studies suggesting that hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, and menopause may contribute to this gender difference. Insomnia can affect individuals of all ages, but its prevalence tends to increase with age. The increased prevalence of insomnia among older adults tends to be related to changes in sleep patterns, medical conditions, or medications.
It’s important to note that insomnia is often a presenting symptom reflective of a deeper root cause. At Meah Modern Psychiatry, we conduct a comprehensive sleep evaluation to explore potential root causes and help you determine the right treatment path.
What are some potential root causes of insomnia?
One of the most important initial steps is to rule out any medical conditions that could contribute to insomnia, including conditions like sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, chronic pain and hormonal imbalances, among others. Depending on the symptoms you present with, your team at Meah may recommend labwork or additional testing. In addition to screening for medical symptoms, it’s critical to evaluate your medication list and ensure that none of the medications you are currently taking could be keeping you from falling asleep. It’s important to also screen for psychiatric symptoms or conditions. Anxiety is one of the most common reasons for onset insomnia (trouble falling asleep). Many individuals feel like they “Can’t shut their brain off”, despite feeling exhausted. Similarly, depression can affect your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. Other avenues that are important to assess are sleep hygiene and environmental factors, as well as diet, habits and lifestyle choices.
As you can see, a Comprehensive Sleep Evaluation is (and should be) quite complex, as there are many biological, psychological and sociological factors that can impact sleep.
What are some treatments for insomnia?
Finding the right treatment for insomnia is contingent upon finding its root cause. Once the root cause is found, a clear treatment path can be established. Treatments for insomnia can include addressing & treating any underlying medical conditions, switching or changing timing of medications, or addressing anxiety, depression or other psychiatric symptoms. It’s also important to assess your current sleep hygiene practices and any diet or lifestyle factors that could be contributing to insomnia.
One of the most effective treatments for insomnia is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). It is the gold standard for treatment of insomnia, even before beginning medications for sleep. This type of therapy serves to break the powerful association your brain has made between bedtime and insomnia, and reassociate bedtime with restful sleep. At Meah Modern Psychiatry, in addition to addressing any root causes of poor sleep, we offer CBT-I as well as medication management and lifestyle counseling for insomnia. In our Integrative Psychiatry program, we also offer guidance on supplements and nutritional changes to help with sleep.
We offer a comprehensive diagnostic approach and a wide range of treatment options to get you resting better as soon as possible. Contact us today to get started! 719-895-6324(MEAH) or connect@meahmodern.com