This article may be helpful if you are:
· Looking to learn more about the underlying causes of insomnia.
· Wanting to learn more about effective long-term treatment for insomnia.
· Looking for insomnia treatment options without using medication.
For those struggling with poor-quality sleep and insufficient sleep, seeking treatment for insomnia is essential, as sleep plays a fundamental role in our short-term and long-term health. Despite its importance, it’s also an area that can often be neglected given our daily life demands.
Hear more about treatment for insomnia from The Banyans Chief Psychologist, Peter Hayton.
Furthermore, chronic sleep issues are closely linked to mental health and addiction experiences, with insomnia being a contributing factor to chronic conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress and substance abuse. When treating insomnia, it’s crucial to evaluate the lifestyle factors contributing to poor sleep as well as any relationship between the individual’s insomnia, and potential mental health or addiction problems. Read on to learn more about insomnia treatment.
The Relationship Between Insomnia, Mental Health & Addiction
Insomnia is associated with impairment of the brain’s ability to process and regulate emotions and consolidate memory and learning effectively. It can increase the risk of developing persistent mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, stress, eating disorders and PTSD. In addition, sleep also plays a crucial role in modulating the levels of important hormones and neurotransmitters that have a direct impact on our mental health. For example, cortisol is a stress hormone that can increase in the presence of insomnia. Elevated cortisol levels can contribute to the development of anxiety or depression and can also further compound other mental health problems.
As with insomnia and mental health, insomnia and addiction also have a complex relationship. When mental health problems become exacerbated by insomnia, some individuals can find themselves self-medicating with drugs or alcohol in an attempt to improve their sleep. This can further increase the risk of developing an addiction. Substances like alcohol and opioids may initially induce drowsiness, but they also disrupt the natural sleep cycle, resulting in longer-term difficulties in both falling asleep and staying asleep.
Treating Insomnia
Seeking treatment for insomnia can make a world of difference when it comes to addressing sleep challenges, especially for those dealing with mental health issues or addiction. You don’t have to face these challenges alone, as effective support options are available.
ASSESS YOUR SLEEP HYGIENE
To start healing your sleep patterns, consider evaluating the sleep hygiene factors within your control. Take a closer look at your lifestyle habits, such as irregular sleep schedules, screen time before bed, a noisy or light-filled sleep environment, or excessive caffeine intake. By making changes in these areas, you can build a strong foundation for quality sleep habits.
Learn more about actions you can take today to improve your sleep quality and download our free e-book below.
FREE E-BOOK DOWNLOAD
“Sleep, Mental Health and Addiction: Common Links and How to Overcome Them”
SPEAK WITH A SLEEP EXPERT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Sleep is very sensitive to any changes in life that we find difficult to cope with. A sleep expert can carefully review your personal history and help identify both the original and ongoing circumstances that contribute to your poor sleep. In this way, they can help you recover from insomnia without medications and help you sustainably build more resilient sleep for the future.
ENGAGE A SLEEP SPECIALIST
Enlisting support from sleep support professionals can be very effective for treating and overcoming insomnia. For example, a sleep doctor, such as Dr James Di Pasquale at the Centre for Neurology, Sleep, and Dental Health, will be able to conduct a sleep study to help diagnose any underlying sleep disordes or uncover if any mental health or addiction challenges may be causing insomnia. Often, there can be physical and emotional factors affecting our sleep that we are unaware of ourselves. Engaging a professional to assist with a diagnosis can be a highly effective way to identify the root cause of your insomnia and, from there, will be able to guide you towards effective, long-term treatment options.
ADDRESS POTENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH OR ADDICTION CAUSES
If you find that the link between sleep, mental health, and/or addiction is significant for you, seeking appropriate treatment for these underlying causes may be necessary. The Banyans offers comprehensive Residential Programs and Day Programs for mental health and addiction, including the option to incorporate a sleep study and sleep consultations with an expert into your tailored treatment program.
Innovative Treatment for Insomnia at The Banyans: Transform your Sleep
As part of The Banyans Sleep Support program, individuals can access an individualised sleep history review and plan to help them understand their sleep patterns and treat the insomnia they may be experiencing. The program includes a sleep consultation and sleep consultation and sleep study provided by sleep doctor, Dr. James Di Pasquale. You will also receive a follow-up consultation to review the findings in detail and explain your personal recommendations.
Sleep Consultation
The Sleep Consultation involves a consultation with a sleep doctor and counsellor.
State-of-the-Art Sleep Study
A non-invasive sleep study is conducted in the comfort of the individual’s home. They are fitted with industry-leading NOX medical equipment that provides the highest quality sleep recording available. The sleep study is performed in the individual’s home, since hospitals cannot replicate the unique environmental factors present in our usual sleep environment. The information collected from the sleep study can help detect sleep disorders, rule out specific sleep problems, and provide reassurance about sleep health.
Tailored Insomnia Treatment Plan
Your sleep and breathing data findings are reviewed in a follow-up appointment with sleep doctor, Dr Di Pasquale, who will fully explain the findings. Based on your results and depending on the presence of any underlying mental health and/or addiction problems, a tailored treatment program is then provided.
Sleep issues can significantly impact our physical and mental health, and seeking professional help from a sleep specialist can be crucial in effectively treating insomnia. Don’t let poor-quality sleep limit your life any longer. Instead, take the first step towards better sleep with The Banyans Sleep Support program.
Call our expert team 24/7 on 1300 226 926 or make an enquiry below to book a confidential conversation.
This article was reviewed by Dr James Di Pasquale, Consultant Clinical Sleep Doctor at The Banyans.
