Therapy Works the Same Way As Medication for Insomnia – and May Last Longer
Medication is the fastest cure for insomnia, and it is popular, with about 4% of Americans taking sleeping pills. But a form of talking therapy also works and is more likely to be a long-term rather than a short-term solution.
Cognitive behavioral therapy has been considered a good cure for insomnia for many years. A recent analysis published in the Annals of Internal Medicine concluded that over 20 studies in adults have shown that therapy is consistently effective in treating insomnia. One of the authors told NPR that the results were as good as what sleeping pills usually give, although the studies did not directly compare therapy and pills.
“The medication just covers up that anxiety and helps people rest,” says [author David] Cunnington. “But cognitive behavioral therapy addresses the underlying problem by making people think about sleep. It can really break the cycle of chronic insomnia. ”
With this type of therapy, you will typically meet with a sleep therapist for four to six sessions and talk about sleep: why you are having trouble with it and how you can tune yourself into the best Z. Home techniques include relaxation techniques and planning your daily routine before sleep . For more information on the latest scientific advances in sleep, see the link below.
To Beat Insomnia, Try Treating the Root Cause Instead of Pills | NPR
Photo by Timothy Krause .
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