Insomnia Isn’t Just About Sleep—And Here’s Why Your Fixes Might Be Failing

Another sleepless night, tossing and turning in bed, wishing you could get the sleep you need and then getting frustrated that it just isn’t happening. Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. According to the American Medical Association, roughly 25-30 million Americans deal with insomnia.

There are many potential causes and triggers when it comes to insomnia. But, rather than digging deeper into those causes, many people search for quick fixes or things they think will help them sleep right away. That’s understandable, of course. Not being able to sleep can be overwhelming and have a negative impact on your overall quality of life.

However, many of the things people use to try to treat insomnia simply aren’t effective. Let’s take a closer look at some of those fixes and why they might be failing. More importantly, we’ll cover what you should be doing to finally get a good night’s sleep.

Sleeping Pills

One of the most common ways people try to treat insomnia is with sleeping pills. What they don’t realize is that these pills are meant to be used on a short-term basis. While you might get a bit more sleep right away, it doesn’t last.

The body builds up a tolerance quickly, so the pills become less effective over time. If you stop taking them, the insomnia is likely to return almost right away. And, of course, there are potential side effects to consider. Things like drowsiness, confusion, and even balance issues aren’t uncommon when taking sleeping pills.

Sleep Trackers

While smartwatches and sleep trackers can be helpful for general sleep tracking, they’re likely not getting to the root of the cause. So, they can give you as much data as you want without really telling you anything.

These trackers typically pay attention to movement and your heart rate, rather than brainwaves. So, they can’t accurately determine your REM sleep (or when you’re in a state of deep sleep). They also tend to be inaccurate when it comes to sleep stage identification. So, you might not be getting the specific reading you want.

Finally, if you’re a person with insomnia who tends to stay in bed rather than getting up, these trackers likely aren’t the solution. They might record that you’re sleeping simply due to a lack of movement, which obviously isn’t the case.

Sleep Hygiene

Having a healthy sleep hygiene routine is a good thing for everyone. Things like going to sleep at the same time each night, establishing a healthy sleep environment, and avoiding electronics before bed are all positives.

However, even the best sleep hygiene routine in the world isn’t likely to cure your insomnia. Again, it’s not focusing on the root cause of the insomnia. It doesn’t directly address any of the issues likely associated with your insomnia. So, while you don’t necessarily have to stop your sleep routine, don’t assume it will provide the fix you need.

What Works to Cure Insomnia?

One of the best ways to actually beat insomnia for good is with cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT can help you identify what’s causing your insomnia. Getting to the root of the issue is the greatest way to start healing from the inside out and getting the sleep you need.

Additionally, if anxious or negative thoughts are keeping you up, CBT will help to stop those negative thought patterns. It will make it easier to manage stress and anxiety overall, so you might find that you don’t struggle as much at night.

Most importantly, CBT is a long-term solution. When you choose to deal with insomnia at the source, you’re more likely to see success that lasts, so you can enjoy a restful sleep night after night.

If you’ve tried everything else for insomnia and you’re ready to make an effective change to the way you sleep, contact our office today to set up an appointment.