Gulf Port Insomnia Treatment Program: Therapies and Medications
Insomnia is probably the most widely occurring sleep disorder. A patient suffering from this condition finds it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. There are also patients for whom both falling and staying asleep is difficult. This article will educate you about therapies and medications that play major roles in a Gulf Port insomnia treatment program.
Behavioral Therapies
Through behavioral therapies the therapist teaches an insomnia patient new sleeping behaviors. The process also educates these sufferers about good sleeping environment. Recent studies reveal that behavior therapies work as effectively as sleep medications and sometimes even show results quicker. As a result, the current generation doctors recommend behavior therapies to insomnia patients before prescribing any medication. The list below will inform you about things that behavior therapy for insomnia will teach you.
€ Good sleeping habits: First, you will be taught sleep hygiene that will promote sound sleep.
€ Different relaxation techniques: You will be taught breathing exercises, biofeedback and a series of muscle relaxation techniques. These are ways of reducing anxiety and stress at bedtime. If you perform these techniques with care, you will be able to effectively control your muscle tension, mood, heart rate and breathing.
€ Cognitive behavioral therapy: Through this therapy, you will be taught how to replace all your worries, which also include anxiety caused by not sleeping with happy positive thoughts.
€ Stimulus control: In this stage, you will learn reducing the time or the number of hours you stay awake on your bed. Through stimulus control, the therapist will teach you and your mind that the bedroom and your bed are only meant for sleeping and having sex.
€ Sleep restriction: Through sleep restriction, you will be taught to reduce the number of hours you stay in bed. The idea behind this is promoting sleep deprivation so that you feel more tired and sleepy on the following night.
Medications
Prescription medications like eszopiclone, zolpidem, ramelteon or zaleplon might assist you in falling asleep. However, you should not take these medications without consulting the doctor in charge of your Gulf Port insomnia treatment program. The doctor will typically decide against prescribing any of the above mentioned medications if he finds that behavior therapy is showing results for you; and if he (the doctor) prescribes a sleep medication, he will ensure that you don't take it for over a few weeks. This is because prolonged use of these medicinal drugs might result in certain side effects.
Behavioral Therapies
Through behavioral therapies the therapist teaches an insomnia patient new sleeping behaviors. The process also educates these sufferers about good sleeping environment. Recent studies reveal that behavior therapies work as effectively as sleep medications and sometimes even show results quicker. As a result, the current generation doctors recommend behavior therapies to insomnia patients before prescribing any medication. The list below will inform you about things that behavior therapy for insomnia will teach you.
€ Good sleeping habits: First, you will be taught sleep hygiene that will promote sound sleep.
€ Different relaxation techniques: You will be taught breathing exercises, biofeedback and a series of muscle relaxation techniques. These are ways of reducing anxiety and stress at bedtime. If you perform these techniques with care, you will be able to effectively control your muscle tension, mood, heart rate and breathing.
€ Cognitive behavioral therapy: Through this therapy, you will be taught how to replace all your worries, which also include anxiety caused by not sleeping with happy positive thoughts.
€ Stimulus control: In this stage, you will learn reducing the time or the number of hours you stay awake on your bed. Through stimulus control, the therapist will teach you and your mind that the bedroom and your bed are only meant for sleeping and having sex.
€ Sleep restriction: Through sleep restriction, you will be taught to reduce the number of hours you stay in bed. The idea behind this is promoting sleep deprivation so that you feel more tired and sleepy on the following night.
Medications
Prescription medications like eszopiclone, zolpidem, ramelteon or zaleplon might assist you in falling asleep. However, you should not take these medications without consulting the doctor in charge of your Gulf Port insomnia treatment program. The doctor will typically decide against prescribing any of the above mentioned medications if he finds that behavior therapy is showing results for you; and if he (the doctor) prescribes a sleep medication, he will ensure that you don't take it for over a few weeks. This is because prolonged use of these medicinal drugs might result in certain side effects.