Non-medical Treatment of Insomnia
Insomnia
takes on special significance, since it can lead to more serious health
problems, and can also be a symptom of more serious psychological or medical
problems. Thus, before undergoing psychological
treatment of this disorder, it is imperative to seek medical evaluation to rule
out such other causes. The
psychological, or non-medical treatment of insomnia includes learning
proper sleep hygiene as well as learning how to interrupt and avoid the
worrying that often causes or accompanies insomnia.
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Sleep
Hygiene
Many people, in their
efforts to obtain a good night’s sleep, fall into unhealthy habits such as
leaving the television or lights on when going to bed, getting up and
exercising, going to bed at varying times, and relying on sedatives.
Dr. Leider
has refined a technique, using basic cognitive-behavioral principles, which allows individuals to overcome the
negative thinking habits which often prevent people from falling asleep at
bedtime. This treatment can also help people to fall back to sleep when awakened in the middle of the night.
This treatment is designed for those individuals who do not have a
sleep disorder due to some physiological disease, a bipolar disorder, or side
effects of medications or stimulants.
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