Insomnia Overview

Sleep is one the most basic human necessities. When your sleep cycle gets compromised for a short while, you can make up for it, but prolonged periods of sleep deprivation, irregular or interrupted sleep can have a hugely negative impact on the quality of life. Insufficient sleep also interferes with our ability to carry out day to day activities to our full potential. This is why insomnia should not be overlooked or ignored.

Insomnia can be due to many causes. Some like jet lag, adjusted circadian rhythms because of traveling or mountain climbing, are transient. However, good psychiatrists know that they need to treat insomnia like a symptom, not a disease. Our practice has extensive experience in treating patients who are suffering from insomnia, whether it is in the acute stage or chronic insomnia. Not only does our team of psychiatrists focus on the treatment or management of insomnia, but we also emphasize on getting to the root cause of the patient’s insomnia. Some patients have reactive sleeplessness after a major emotional upheaval. Some have anxiety related insomnia. Occasionally it is accompanied by organic illness as well. In all cases, our facility is equipped to treat all forms of insomnia to the maximum benefit of the patient.

Insomnia can occur because of mental illnesses like PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, mania, ADHD, and sometimes due to a rebound mechanism after discontinuing sedative drugs. The treatment approach for all of them varies. A lot of conjecture exists about seeking treatment for insomnia, with the fear that drugs that induce sleep can cause addiction, dependence and withdrawal. To avoid this, we utilize prescription of drugs that are non habit forming, and we are ready to help with powerful sleep behavioral technique as well as multiple medications options. We would be glad to overcome common bias that all or majority of sleeping agents are addictive.

Types of Insomnia

• Transient Insomnia: Transient insomnia lasts up to one week and often occurs in response to stressful events in a person’s life, such as new job, upcoming deadlines, or exams. In many people it recurs each time stressful events arise.
• Intermittent Insomnia: Intermittent insomnia lasts for 1 to 6 months and usually occurs when more serious and ongoing stress in present. This frequently includes extreme mental stress like injury, loss of loved ones, financial crisis, or physical factors line noises, sounds, or uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.
• Chronic Insomnia: Chronic insomnia is any insomnia that lasts more than 6 months. People with chronic insomnia frequently have a lifestyle or other medical issues that contribute to their sleeplessness. This includes: chronic pain, frequent headaches, depression and other mood disorders, many medications, stimulant or alcohol use, sleep apnea, RLS (restless leg syndrome), and shift work.

Insomnia treatment

On the front of therapy, our panel of psychiatrists is excellently backed in management of insomnia to supplement the medical management as well. We are well versed in providing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for management of insomnia, which has been shown to be even more effective than certain sedative drugs. By the application of cognitive behavioral therapy we help the patient form a sleep wake cycle with control over their lifestyle, which is hugely beneficial. Our psychiatrists also guide patients through lifestyle and environment modification, which are one of the best ways to control and negate insomnia. We advise patients on sleep wake cycles, diet and exercise changes, mood and behavioral control, everything that patients need to establish a healthy lifestyle with sufficient sleep every night.  We also guide the application of hypnotherapy and relaxation therapy, in patients who will benefit from it. The psychiatrists on our panel are very learned with the prescription of drugs to help patients as well, both sedative and drugs needed to manage co morbid conditions. We even prescribe drugs that are non habit forming, for patients who do not wish to use potentially addictive drugs. Our practice has years of experience in dealing with patients who have insomnia, and our thorough expertise helps them lead a normal life again.