Has anyone tried Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia?

Question:

Has anyone tried this for insomnia and has it worked? I've had issues with falling asleep for about 3 months now and its driving me nuts, i tried sleep aids, xanax, etc and all the recommended methods for trying to sleep (diet, exercise, relaxation, herbal supp., etc), i have been a bit better for the last 3 weeks and sleeping more normally, with a few nights mixed in of no sleep. I get so much anxiety at night and then cannot sleep. Anyways, i have an appointment for CBT next week and was wondering if people have had positive experiences with it?

Answers:
My personal experience was very positive for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Although my inital reason, along with being recommended by my psychiatrist, was depression, I found myself being helped in many areas in my life, including sleep. One of the biggest things I walked away with from CBT was that I learned how to change the way I was feeling by changing the way I was thinking. This influenced many areas of my life, including sleep. How so you ask? Well, I don't complain or worry anymore now. When I do tend to worry from time to time, I tend to limit my worrying to just 30 minutes now. I have developed a sense of balance in my life. Past 6:00 p.m., it is now evening and the day is gone. My day is now the past and my future is not here yet. This mindset helps me get ready for bed more than anything else. Now I sleep 6-8 hours every night. I go to sleep at the same time and wake up at the same time as well.

When I saw a behavioral therapist for not sleeping, it was good for me. When went over different techniques and other possible reasons and meds. I am sleeping better now without medication.

See anxiety, and insomnia, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris... on pages 6, and 3. Try the EFT, on page 2. Have you tried Yoga or Tai Chi before bed? Have you tried meditating your way to sleep, using the word/phrase repetition technique, or the mindfulness breathing on page 2, in bed, after lights out? Also try the guided meditations, on page 3. Consider hypnosis, and/or the Linden method (google it) if all else fails: work on that anxiety: where did it originate?

CBT might help with making you understand how you think about sleep and your nightly routine.

I often have phases of insomnia too and, for sure, some sort of routine before bed-time works (as well as turning all clocks away from view).

Try typing "Sleep Hygiene" into a Search Engine and lots of things should come up. "Sleep Hygiene" is the term used for treating sleep disorders nowadays.

Good luck.

Has anyone tried Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia?

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