Why Does Alcohol Make Me Sleepy? The Truth About Alcohol and Sleep
Why Does Alcohol Make Me Sleepy? The Truth About Alcohol and Sleep By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Some of you might be wondering, “Why does alcohol make me sleepy?” Alcohol makes you sleepy because it acts as a sedative and slows activity in the brain and nervous system. While this may help you fall […]
Can CBT-I Help You Sleep Without Medication?
Can CBT-I Help You Sleep Without Medication? By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Yes, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, or CBT-I, can help many people sleep with less reliance on medication. CBT-I teaches the brain and body how to return to natural sleep by changing the thoughts, behaviors, habits, and nervous-system patterns that keep insomnia […]
What Causes Chronic Insomnia?
What Causes Chronic Insomnia? By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Chronic insomnia is usually caused by more than one issue. Anxiety, trauma, PTSD, chronic pain, depression, grief, stress, medication dependence, alcohol use, medical symptoms, and learned patterns of nighttime alertness can all keep the brain and body awake. In many cases, insomnia is the symptom, […]
How Changing Your Behaviors Changes Your Sleep
How Changing Your Behaviors Changes Your Sleep By Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. You might be wondering, is it true that changing your behavior can affect your sleep? And the answer is “yes,” this result can be achieved by applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT includes changing thoughts and behaviors around health, sleep, anxiety, depression, etc. […]
Can Therapy Help You Sleep Without Medication?
Can Therapy Help You Sleep Without Medication? By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Yes, therapy can help many people sleep without relying solely on medication, especially when insomnia is being driven by anxiety, trauma, stress, pain, rumination, sleep fear, or learned patterns of nighttime alertness. Medication may provide short-term relief, but therapy addresses the patterns […]
What Are the Side Effects of Sleeping Pills?
A decade ago, in 2010, the Drug Enforcement Agency spearheaded a nationwide initiative to take back unused prescription medications. This move aimed to heighten public awareness about the potentially lethal implications of prescription drug misuse. Despite these efforts, the prevalence of misuse and its consequences remain concerning.
Types of Sleep Disorders: The Four Main Categories Explained
Types of Sleep Disorders: The Four Main Categories Explained By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. The types of sleep disorders include insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness disorders, circadian rhythm disorders, and sleep-related movement and behavior disorders. Understanding the different types of sleep disorders can help people recognize symptoms, identify potential causes of sleep problems, and seek […]
Effects of Sleep Deprivation: How Sleep Disorders Affect Health
Effects of Sleep Deprivation: How Sleep Disorders Affect Health By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. In my last post, I talked about the four main categories of sleep disorders. Let’s talk about the effects of sleep deprivation on your life. Sleep disorders can affect nearly every aspect of physical and mental health. The effects of […]
Four Common Treatments for Sleep Disorders
Four Common Treatments for Sleep Disorders By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. There are four treatments for sleep disorder that can help people improve sleep quality, daytime functioning, and overall health. These common treatments include sleep hygiene, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), medication, and holistic approaches. Many individuals benefit from using more than one treatment approach […]
Common Treatments for Sleep Disorders
Common Treatments for Sleep Disorders Sleep disorder treatments fall into a variety of categories, including sleep hygiene, psychotherapy, medications ranging from mild over-the-counter sleep aids to powerful sleep sedatives and hypnotics, and holistic approaches. It is not uncommon for two or more treatment approaches to be used concurrently. Sleep Hygiene Sleep hygiene is defined as […]