Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that is characterized by problems falling and staying asleep, as well as getting good quality sleep. As many as 3 in 10 Americans suffer from insomnia. Of these, 28% state that insomnia disrupts their normal routines and affects the quality of their daily lives. — Additionally, stress and anxiety around a lack of sleep can make insomnia worse, further affecting one’s sleep quality and creating a vicious cycle. Getting it treated as soon as possible is crucial to ending this particular pattern. One way to do this is by getting help online which is much more convenient. So with that in mind, we are going to discuss some common questions about insomnia and online treatment.
What causes insomnia?
Stress, as well as changes in your lifestyle or environment, may be the reason behind your insomnia. For instance, your daily routine may include waking up once in a while to care for a baby. Living in a busy neighborhood and worrying about work, money, or relationships also increase the risk of insomnia. While these are factors that can be altered, the National Institutes of Health informs us that there are causes that cannot be changed: age and genetics. Insomnia can develop at any age, although the older you get, the higher your risk. Genes also play a role since you’re more likely to be an insomniac if it runs in your family. Fortunately, there’s a convenient way to get treated for insomnia.
Who can I approach for insomnia treatment?
Two healthcare professionals you can approach are your doctor and nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners, in particular, can stand in for doctors if they’ve acquired additional education in certain fields like sleep medicine. Both professionals are mostly available to consult via telehealth, too. For instance, a video-conferencing call with a nurse practitioner may involve a discussion regarding your symptoms and possible treatments. With the expanded reach that telehealth grants them, they can treat patients across states. In fact, nurse practitioners in Maryland who work with non-emergency conditions including insomnia are being hired by many telehealth companies. Although they are based in Maryland, they can acquire certification that permits them to treat insomnia cases across state lines.
Typically, insomniacs will be asked to participate in sleep studies or prescribed sleep medicine after consulting a healthcare professional. You could also want to opt for a more effective treatment. Behavioral treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i) are now being recommended as the first line of treatment. Compared to medication, this doesn’t have any side effects. A CBT-i expert can help you identify certain thoughts and behaviors that contribute to your symptoms. Then they will suggest certain approaches, such as cognitive, psychoeducational, or behavioral interventions to target the symptoms.
Is online treatment effective for insomnia?
While we’ve already discussed who to approach for online insomnia treatment, you may still wonder about its effectiveness. A study by researchers in Virginia confirms that internet-delivered CBT-i succeeded in controlling patients’ insomnia symptoms. The patients were assessed before and after the treatment, as well as during the 6th and 12th-month follow-ups. The results show that their symptoms decreased, while controlled participants’ increased. Given this, it’s safe to say that online insomnia treatment is effective.
Additionally, our post ‘What You Should Know About Online Therapy’ shares that online therapy can aid insomniacs, too. It can help them deal with the stress and anxiety causing their lack of sleep. Ease of access, reduced stigma, and increased intimacy are some benefits of online therapy, aside from treating your insomnia alone.
Insomnia must be treated immediately to end your cycle of sleeping problems. Online treatment for insomnia is a convenient and effective method in doing so, especially when provided by experts in the field. Avail of our services today to treat your insomnia.
Exclusively written for https://dcmetrotherapy.com/ by Amy Bliss
