A shocking 17.8% of Americans reported having sleeping difficulties most nights in 2020. While scientists don't necessarily know why humans need sleep, they know that a lack of sleep can have negative impacts on health, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression. There are several cures for insomnia, including medication. However, insomnia medication can have side effects and lead to dependence. Instead, it's a good idea to look into holistic treatment options for insomnia, such as CBT. Learn more about using CBT for insomnia.
What is CBT?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) refers to a type of psychotherapy that aims to change certain thoughts and behavioral patterns. Therapists perform talk therapy with patients in one-on-one sessions. The therapist will attempt to get to the bottom of the insomnia to resolve the issue at the source. For example, the patient may stay up due to anxious thoughts related to work. The therapist will teach the patient coping mechanisms to relieve this anxiety at night.
What are the benefits of CBT?
There are a number of reasons that people choose CBT to treat insomnia. First, CBT doesn't require the use of medication. While a therapist may refer patients to a psychiatrist if CBT isn't working alone, many people will see results with talk therapy alone. These patients won't need to worry about the side effects of medication or getting addicted to medication.
CBT also creates a long-term solution. Medications can produce results. However, when the patient stops taking medication, the problems return. Of course, in order for patients to see the results they want, they need to actively participate in their treatment.
Will CBT work for me?
The only way to know if CBT treatment for insomnia will work for you is to give it a try. Be sure to tell your therapist about your goals related to insomnia. You should not replace medical treatment for CBT without talking to your doctor first.
Is CBT covered by insurance?
Most insurance companies cover talk therapy to a certain degree, but it depends on each patient's health insurance plan. Talk to your insurance company to learn more about the details of your plan. You may have all of your appointments covered. Alternatively, you may need to pay a co-pay for each appointment. People without health insurance will need to pay for treatment out of pocket or find a mental health platform that offers CBT.
Is your knee stiff and painful every morning when you get out of bed? Perhaps, you sometimes feel a grinding sensation in your knee. If you can relate to this frustrating situation, you might be suffering from osteoarthritis. Thankfully, several treatments are available for this joint condition. Sometimes, physicians recommend patients battling osteoarthritis of the knee take a prescription painkiller. Doctors also often encourage patients to lose weight and start a low-impact exercise program. Swimming and walking are both great forms of low-impact exercise. On this blog, I hope you will discover how to effectively and quickly relieve the painful symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. Enjoy!