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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
The Importance of Mindset in Overcoming Sleep Anxiety and Insomnia
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Sleep Anxiety – What You Need to Know to Get Rid of It For Good
What is sleep anxiety? Simply, it is the fear and worry generated by your own insomnia that, in turn, causes you to stay awake even … Read more »
The Insomnia Anxiety Connection – Are Symptoms of Anxiety to Blame?
The Insomnia Anxiety connection is a strong one, though it can be subtle and sometimes even hidden from the insomniac’s conscious mind. But if overcoming … Read more »
Effects of Lack of Sleep — How Fear of Insomnia Side Effects Can Keep You Up At Night
Can’t sleep? The effects of lack of sleep are no joke. According to some research studies, sleep deprivation side effects can include increased risks of … Read more »
Worrying About The Effects of Insomnia Keeping You Up At Night?
It seems like everywhere you go, someone is warning against the bad health effects of insomnia and sleep deprivation. Many studies have been done on … Read more »