Paradoxical Insomnia (Sleep State Misperception): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Paradoxical Insomnia (Sleep State Misperception): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph. D. Many people wonder, what is paradoxical insomnia? Paradoxical insomnia, also known as sleep state misperception, sleep misperception, or subjective insomnia, is a sleep disorder in which people believe they are awake for much of the night even though they […]
How CBT-I Treats Chronic Insomnia
How CBT-I Treats Chronic Insomnia By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. How CBT-I treats chronic insomnia is practical: it changes the thoughts, behaviors, sleep schedules, and nervous-system patterns that keep insomnia going. It does not simply give you more sleep hygiene rules. CBT-I helps retrain the brain and body so the bed becomes associated with […]
What Is CBT-I? A Complete Guide to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia
What Is CBT-I? A Complete Guide to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. CBT-I for insomnia (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia) is considered the gold standard treatment for chronic insomnia. CBT-I for insomnia helps people identify and change the thoughts, behaviors, habits, and nervous system patterns that contribute to sleep diffisulties. […]
Why Do I Wake Up at 3 A.M. Every Night?
Why Do I Wake Up at 3 A.M. Every Night? By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. If you wake up at 3 A.M. every night, your nervous system, stress hormones, sleep rhythm, pain, trauma history, or nighttime anxiety may be keeping your brain alert when your body should stay asleep. Alcohol, medication rebound, depression, chronic […]
Can PTSD Cause Insomnia?
Can PTSD Cause Insomnia? By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Yes, PTSD can cause insomnia. Post-traumatic stress disorder can keep the nervous system on alert long after the danger has passed. A person may be physically safe in bed, but the brain and body may still be scanning for threat. That can make it hard […]
Sleep Deprivation: Why One Bad Night Isn’t a Crisis
Sleep Deprivation: Why One Bad Night Isn’t a Crisis By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Sleep deprivation can affect mood, concentration, energy, and overall health. However, many people with insomnia overestimate how little sleep they actually get and underestimate their ability to function after a poor night’s sleep. While chronic sleep deprivation deserves attention, one […]
Why Trauma Survivors Often Struggle With Sleep and Insomnia
Why Trauma Survivors Often Struggle With Sleep and Insomnia By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Trauma survivors often struggle with sleep because the nervous system may stay alert long after the danger has passed. Bedtime can feel unsafe when the brain connects stillness, darkness, or loss of control with threat. This is not weakness. It […]
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. […]
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 […]
How to Help Insomnia: Focus on Solutions, Not Causes
How to Help Insomnia: Focus on Solutions, Not Causes By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. How to help insomnia is one of the most common questions I hear from patients. Many people spend years searching for reasons they cannot sleep, hoping that understanding the cause will solve the problem. While insight can sometimes be helpful, […]