Insomnia

If you can’t fall asleep or you wake during the night, you may have insomnia. This common sleep disorder can make it difficult to function during the day and may increase your risk of other physical and mental health concerns. At Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry, Tammi Bancroft, FNP-C, evaluates your symptoms and develops personalized treatment plans to help you achieve more restful, restorative sleep. Tammi offers in-person and virtual care from the practice's main location in Colorado and also provides virtual appointments for patients throughout Arizona. Don’t wait to get help for ongoing sleep problems. Call the office or request an appointment online today to schedule an insomnia evaluation.

What is insomnia?

Insomnia, the most common type of sleep disorder, causes one or more of the following symptoms. You may:

• Have a hard time falling asleep
• Wake frequently during the night
• Struggle to get back to sleep when you wake
• Wake up too early in the morning

You may also stay awake all night. Most people with insomnia struggle with their sleep at least several times a week.

Are there different types of insomnia?

Yes, there are three types of insomnia: episodic, persistent, and recurrent. They are each based on how long your sleep problem lasts. Episodic insomnia lasts at least one month but less than three months.

Persistent insomnia lasts three months or longer. Without treatment, insomnia can go on for many years.

You have recurrent insomnia if you have two or more episodes of persistent or episodic insomnia over the course of a year.

What symptoms occur if I have insomnia?

Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep are the primary symptoms of insomnia. But you may also experience:

• Daytime tiredness and fatigue
• Irritability and restlessness
• Difficulty paying attention
• Loss of memory
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Anxiety

Lack of sleep also has a big impact on your overall health. Insomnia makes you more likely to have a car accident and affects your performance at work or school. Sleep deprivation also increases your risk of chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.

How is insomnia treated?

At Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry, Tammi creates a customized treatment plan that may include one or more of the following:

Sleep hygiene

Sleep hygiene refers to creating bedtime rituals that promote sleep, such as:

• Going to bed at the same time
• Calming activities before bed (e.g., warm bath, reading)
• Keeping your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet
• Avoiding meals, caffeine, and alcohol in the evening
• Skipping naps in the afternoon
• Turning off all electronics

The blue light from electronics disrupts your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) uses several techniques to help you relax and sleep. For example, you learn to control the thoughts in your head that keep you awake.

Sleep medications

Several over-the-counter and prescription medications can help you fall asleep. However, you only use most prescription medications for a limited time due to the risk of addiction.

Don’t keep struggling with insomnia when you can get exceptional care at Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry. Call the office or book a telehealth appointment online today.