We already know that negative and worrying thoughts can disrupt our sleep and fuel the vicious cycle of sleep anxiety. We’ve discussed it many times, … Read more »
I’m Finally Sleeping Better—Why Do I Still Feel Bad?
Many insomniacs experience a strange phenomenon when they start sleeping better. It goes sort of like this: you are finally getting more hours, falling asleep … Read more »
Why CBT Works Better with Repetition (Even if You’re Totally Bored by It)
Sometimes you get bored doing CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) as self-therapy. It does get repetitive. The worrying statements that you write down in one session … Read more »
The Great Nap Debate
Most sleep experts advise insomniacs to avoid taking naps during the day. And this makes good sense if your primary cause of insomnia is a … Read more »
“Hey look, I’m finally falling asleep! Oh, Wait…. Never mind!”
One of the most frustrating symptoms of sleep anxiety is that moment when you are beginning to feel a delicious relaxation you recognize as the … Read more »
Bed Anxiety and The Search For Comfort
Often people with insomnia don’t like their bed, and that’s understandable. Bed reminds us of tossing and turning, of frustration and despair, of anxious, repetitive … Read more »
What To Do When Your Negative Thoughts Sound “More True” Than Your Rational, Positive Thoughts
Traditional CBT, such as that explained in the popular books by Dr. David Burns (which I highly recommend), often asks you to write down your … Read more »
The Two Types of Insomnia – Complicated and Not Quite So Complicated
There are really only two types of insomnia—that which is complicated by sleep anxiety and that which isn’t. In reality, there are many types of … Read more »
Revisiting Hyperarousal – What it Means, What Causes It, and How to Help Yourself
Sometimes I hear from people who are experiencing hyperarousal symptoms. Naturally they want immediate, effective relief, preferably in the form of a magic pill. And … Read more »
What Worries You Most About Not Sleeping?
What worries you most about not sleeping? When I had insomnia, I worried about the aftereffects of not getting enough sleep. That makes sense. After … Read more »
The Dangers and Misery of Sleeping Pill Addiction and Withdrawal
I have often said that I am in favor of a cautious and moderate use of medication on an as-needed basis—mainly as a source of … Read more »
Some FAQs About Insomnia
The following is a question-and-answer session that may prove helpful in your journey toward better sleep. I try to address some of the most baffling … Read more »
How to Force Your Brain to Relax (Or Not)
One of the most futile, ineffective ways we deal with the problem of insomnia is trying to force our brains to shut down, relax and … Read more »
More About the Paradox of Insomnia and the Snowball Effect of Anxiety
While I have mentioned the paradox of insomnia too many times to count, this article is meant to go into more details on what this … Read more »
PTSD and Insomnia
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a well-known cause of insomnia. While not as common as anxiety, it can trigger an especially challenging type of insomnia … Read more »
Insomnia Relapses – Why They Occur and What to Do About Them
Many people who contact me want to know if relapses – experiencing worse insomnia after a period of improvement – are normal. They also want … Read more »
How Long Does It Take to Get Over Insomnia?
The two most common questions I get from people trying to get over insomnia are 1) How long does it take? and 2) Why do … Read more »
The Role of Sleeping Pills in the Insomniac’s World
As I’ve mentioned before, I am generally in favor of a limited use of sleeping medications. I believe these can help calm sleep anxiety until … Read more »
Examples of CBT for Insomnia
If you need a little help getting started in your CBT for insomnia practice, you may find the following examples useful. Sometimes people need examples … Read more »
How to Practice CBT for Best Results
In previous articles I have described CBT as the process of writing down your thoughts, analyzing them to spot certain flaws in your thinking, and … Read more »