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Insomnia

At Clarity Clinic, we understand the toll that insomnia can take on your physical and mental well-being. We are here to offer you a compassionate and effective approach to insomnia treatment that addresses the root causes of sleep disturbances and helps you regain the restful nights you deserve. Our dedicated team of experienced mental health professionals is committed to guiding you on your journey to better sleep, improved mood, and enhanced overall quality of life.
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Insomnia
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Insomnia Disorder Defined

 

Insomnia is dissatisfaction with sleep quantity or quality with complaints of difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep. Sleep impairments have significant impacts on social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Difficulty maintaining sleep is the most common single symptom of insomnia, followed by difficulty falling asleep. A combination of the two is the most common presentation of insomnia. The onset of insomnia can occur at any time during someone’s life but the first episode is most commonly in young adulthood. Sleep often becomes less restful as people age, so noise or other changes in the environment are more likely to impact sleep. With age, the internal clock often advances, so you get tired earlier in the evening and wake up earlier in the morning. But older people generally still need the same amount of sleep as younger people do. Other changes that occur with age that can cause insomnia are changes in health, sleep patterns, and changes in activity. Insomnia can be characterized based on its duration.

The National Institutes of Health estimates that roughly 30 percent of the general population complains of sleep disruption and approximately 10 percent have associated symptoms of daytime functional impairment consistent with the diagnosis of insomnia. Most cases of insomnia are related to poor sleep habits, depression, anxiety, lack of exercise, chronic illness, or certain medications.

 

Different Types of Insomnia Disorders

 

There are specifiers identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders related to insomnia:

  • Episodic: Symptoms last at least 2 months but less than 3 months.
  • Persistent: Symptoms last 3 months or longer.
  • Recurrent: Two (or more) episodes within the space of 1 year.

 

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders also identifies different manifestations of insomnia that occur at different times of the sleep period:

  • Sleep-onset insomnia (or initial insomnia): Difficulty initiating sleep at bedtime.
  • Sleep maintenance insomnia (or middle insomnia): Frequent or prolonged awakenings throughout the night.
  • Late insomnia: Early-morning awakening with an inability to return to sleep.

 

Insomnia Disorder Causes

 

There are various causes for insomnia, all depending on the person and situation. Stress can be a major source of insomnia. Concerns about finances, trauma, stressful life situations, family, work, health, etc., can keep an individual’s mind active at night, making it difficult to sleep. If an individual travels a lot or has a busy work schedule (jet lag, changing shifts, or traveling across multiple time zones), disrupting the body’s circadian rhythms can lead to insomnia. Circadian rhythms act as an internal clock, guiding such things as the sleep-wake cycle, metabolism, and body temperature. Eating late at night can cause insomnia because it can cause physical uncomfortableness due to how the food is being digested. Poor sleeping habits like stimulating activities before bed, watching tv, or other screen time before bedtime, naps, or irregular sleeping schedules may also cause insomnia.

Other causes of insomnia could be associated with medical conditions or the use of certain drugs or medications. This can include medications for blood pressure or antidepressants and medical conditions like heart disease or asthma. Mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, may disrupt sleep. Other sleep-wake disorders can also cause insomnia. This can include but is not limited to restless leg syndrome, or sleep apnea can prevent individuals from falling asleep. The intake of stimulants like drinking coffee or nicotine has also been a hindrance to falling asleep or staying asleep.

 

Insomnia Disorder Symptoms

 

To be diagnosed with Insomnia, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the following criteria must be met:

  • A predominant complaint of dissatisfaction with sleep quantity or quality, is associated with one (or more) of the following symptoms:
    • Difficulty initiating sleep. (In children, this may manifest as difficulty initiating sleep without caregiver intervention).
    • Difficulty maintaining sleep, characterized by frequent awakenings or problems returning to sleep after awakenings. (in children, this may manifest as difficulty returning to sleep without caregiver intervention).
    • Early-morning awakening with inability to return to sleep.
    • Sleep disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, educational, academic, behavioral, or other important areas of functioning.
    • The sleep difficulty occurs at least 3 nights per week.
    • The sleep difficulty is present for at least 3 months.
    • Sleep difficulty occurs despite adequate opportunity for sleep.
    • Insomnia is not better explained by and does not occur exclusively during another sleep-wake disorder (e.g., narcolepsy, a breathing-related sleep disorder, a circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder, or parasomnia).
    • Insomnia is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., drug abuse or medication).
    • Coexisting mental disorders and medical conditions do not adequately explain the predominant complaint of insomnia.

How to Approach a Loved One

 

If a loved one displays symptoms of insomnia it is important to recommend that they visit their current doctor and request an evaluation. While preventing someone from developing insomnia is not possible, providing support and information on treating insomnia is. Insomnia is very common, and reassuring loved ones that there is treatment and that they are not alone in their experience can be helpful.

 

Types of Insomnia Disorder Treatment

 

Treatment for insomnia can include behavioral, psychological, medical components, or some combination thereof, but it is usually treatable. It is important to distinguish the best course of treatment individually.

Lifestyle Changes

A significant treatment for insomnia is lifestyle changes. Doing things like making sure not to eat heavily before bedtime, finding ways to relax, not staying in bed when you are not sleeping, avoiding the intake of stimulants before bed, and eliminating screen time before bedtime are all ways to change sleeping habits. Remaining active and sticking to a sleep schedule constantly may improve an individual’s sleeping habits. If an individual is taking medications, it is important to know the side effects of the medication.

Medication Management

Various prescription sleeping pills can assist with falling asleep and/or staying asleep. It is not advised to rely on prescription sleeping pills to sleep, but some are used for long-term use. It is important to consult with a doctor when using sleeping pills as they do have side effects like daytime grogginess. Taking over-the-counter non-prescription sleeping pills is not intended for regular use and may cause side effects like dizziness, difficulty urinating, daytime sleepiness, etc. Please consult with a doctor before taking any kind of sleeping pills.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia is a common form of treatment for insomnia, as it can teach individuals how to control or eliminate thoughts that can cause individuals not to stay asleep or fall asleep. CBT-I teaches individuals how to develop good sleeping habits and behaviors that will assist with sleeping habits. Some strategies learned are relaxation techniques or sleep restriction (controlling naps, changing the amount of time spent in bed, etc).

Alternative Medicine

There are other ways to treat insomnia that people try like using meditation or yoga to calm the mind and reduce stress. Other ways include the use of an over-the-counter supplement, melatonin, or other dietary supplements like valerian. Discuss with a doctor before using melatonin or valerian as they have various side effects.

 

Starting Your Insomnia Treatment

 

We understand that reaching out for help with insomnia can be a significant step. Our team is here to support you throughout the process. To begin your journey towards restful sleep and improved well-being, schedule an appointment online today.

Insomnia Disorder FAQ

Insomnia Providers

Stefan
Stefan Dabizljevic, LSW
Therapy
Stephanie
Stephanie Michalski, LSW
Therapy
Giedre
Giedre Antanaitis-Rudawski, MA
Therapy
Natalie
Natalie Eden, LCPC
Therapy
Natasha
Natasha Hingorani
Therapy Clinical Intern
Michael
Michael White
Therapy Clinical Intern
Ross
Ross Pepper, MD
Psychiatrist
Jessica
Jessica Selk, LPC
Therapy
Anish
Anish Desai, MD
Psychiatrist
Reid
Reid Alley, MD
Psychiatrist
Sheena
Sheena Patel, PA-C
PA-C
Ryan
Ryan Atkins, PA-C
Psychiatry
Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn Ehler, LSW
Therapy
Hannah
Hannah Wychocki, PA-C
PA-C
Lauren
Lauren Isdale, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Gabriella
Gabriella Lerner, PA-C
PA-C
Cyrus
Cyrus Ma, PA-C
PA-C
Maggie
Maggie Semprevivo, LSW
Therapy
Zubair
Zubair Khan, PA-C
PA-C
Zachary
Zachary Delgado, LSW
Therapy
Kumail
Kumail Hussain, MD
Young Adult and Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist
Emma
Emma Arsic, PA-C
PA-C
Paul
Paul Bamberger, PA-C
PA-C
Jason
Jason Brescia, LCPC
Therapy
Sankrant
Sankrant Reddy, MD
Psychiatrist
Stephanie
Stephanie Osborne, PA-C
Psychiatry
Ashley
Ashley Seredynski, PA-C
PA-C
Christine
Christine Lantin, PA-C
PA-C
Callie
Callie Perlman, LPC, NCC
Therapist
Chad
Chad Gaynier, LCPC
Therapist
Bianca
Bianca Miller, LCPC
Therapist
Sudhakar
Sudhakar Shenoy, MD
Adult and Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist
Sharon
Sharon Koys, PA-C
PA-C
Sarah
Sarah Beerman, LCSW, CADC
Therapist
Sahar
Sahar Eftekhar, DO
General & Addiction Psychiatrist
Rebecca
Rebecca Gilfillan, MD
Psychiatrist
Rebecca
Rebecca Kuhn, PA-C
PA-C
Sonnie
Sonnie Cousins, MA
Therapy
Elana
Elana Horowitz, PA-C
PA-C
Pavan
Pavan Prasad, MD
Psychiatrist
Leslie
Leslie Wolf, LCPC
Therapist
Laura
Laura Schroeder, LCPC
Therapist
Kiran Binal
Kiran Binal Maharaja, MD
Psychiatrist
Lizzie
Lizzie Ausland, LCPC, CADC
Therapist
Kalyan
Kalyan Rao, MD
Psychiatrist
Jonathan
Jonathan Kolakowski, MD
Psychiatrist
Judy
Judy Bitzer, LCPC
Therapist
James
James Histed, MA
Therapist
Erika
Erika Bielenstein, LCPC
Therapist
Jeanette
Jeanette Marinier, PA-C
PA-C
Jamie
Jamie Schubert, PA-C
PA-C
Sherita
Sherita Hernton, PA-C
PA-C
Emily
Emily Maurer, LCPC
Therapist
Emily
Emily Street, PA-C
PA-C
Savannah
Savannah Sullivan, PA-C
PA-C
Summer
Summer Slininger, PA-C
PA-C
Ravali
Ravali Poreddy, MD
Psychiatrist
Ariella
Ariella Panos, PA-C
PA-C
James
James Ham, PA-C
Psychiatry
Rayna
Rayna Gorstein, PA-C
PA-C
Sierra
Sierra Purcell, PA-C
PA-C
Emily
Emily Hoag, MD
Psychiatrist
Grace
Grace Starrs, PA-C
Psychiatry
Cassie
Cassie Donahue, PA-C
Psychiatry
Gayathri
Gayathri Ganesh, PA-C
PA-C
Samuel
Samuel Eckert, PA-C
PA-C
Nayeli
Nayeli Cruz-Castillo, LCPC
Therapy
Rafael
Rafael Lopez, MD
Psychiatrist
Scott
Scott Shadrick, PA-C
PA-C
Khadija
Khadija Manzoor, LPC, CRC
Therapy
Mira
Mira Ebalo, PA-C
PA-C
Lauren
Lauren Stanley, LCSW
Therapy
Miriam
Miriam Mixon, LCSW
Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Justin
Justin Lee, PA-C
PA-C
Jerri
Jerri Ganz, LCSW
Therapy
Sam
Sam Donham, LCPC
Therapy
Emily
Emily Brennan, PA-C
PA-C
Autumn
Autumn Holtschlag, ALMFT, LPC
Therapy
Jenna
Jenna Jacobson, PA-C
PA-C
Dane
Dane Davlantis, LCPC
Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Caitlin
Caitlin Daughtry, PA-C
PA-C
Camryn
Camryn Schmidt, PA-C
PA-C
Courtney
Courtney Daly, LCPC, CADC
Therapy
Carolyn
Carolyn Klinkert, LCPC
Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Angelina
Angelina Wheeler, LCPC
Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Brent
Brent Hope, LCSW
Therapy
Alexandra
Alexandra Gregor, PA-C
PA-C
Allegria
Allegria Knouse, PA-C
PA-C
Antonina
Antonina Lunetta, LCPC
Therapist, Clinical Supervisor
Alyssa
Alyssa Bobak, PA-C
PA-C

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