How does Cognitive Therapy for Insomnia Work?

Many sufferers of insomnia begin by trying out natural cures, then perhaps pass on to over the counter treatments, and finally to prescription drugs, in order to combat their problem. However, there is another method which can be just as effective and even more permanent, and that is cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy for insomnia works by clearing up the patient?s misconceptions ? we shall see which ones in a moment. However, cognitive therapy is not for everyone, as it does need a conscious effort on the part of the patient.

The first misconception cognitive theory can clear up is the belief that it is a good idea to take a nap during the day to make up for lost sleep the night before. This is, in fact, bad for you. One of the most important forms of dealing with insomnia is to establish a fixed sleeping routine and timetable. Taking a nap during the day can simply sabotage this timetable and make it unworkable.

Another misconception that can be challenged by cognitive therapy for insomnia is that it is also a good idea to stay in bed, even if you can?t sleep, because that way you at least get rest. While it is true that lying in bed gives you rest, that rest is in no way a substitute for the sleep you lose through insomnia.

Other people may believe, mistakenly, that their insomnia has taken away their ability to sleep well. Again, cognitive therapy can teach these people that insomnia is simply a symptom of something else, and their inability to sleep is not permanent and will disappear when the underlying trigger has disappeared. Finally, yet other people believe that they suffer insomnia because of their age ? the older you are the less sleep you need and the more difficult it is to sleep. This, once more, is false, and cognitive therapy can play a part in making the patient understand that his or her age is simply not the problem.

As we can see, the common denominator in these examples is that cognitive therapy makes the patient face up to his own reality, and to contrast his or her beliefs with the real situation. For this reason it is not suitable for everyone ? or rather it won?t work with everyone. That is because cognitive therapy, to be successful, needs the patient to make a conscious effort and to make a firm commitment to learn and to apply his learning to a change in attitude.

Therefore, cognitive therapy is indeed a useful tool in the fight against insomnia, by opening patients? eyes to the real problem. However it can only lead to a successful conclusion if the patient is willing to commit himself or herself to learning from the experience.