How to treat insomnia without medications

If you’re an insomniac, chances are you have Googled every possible sleep remedy out there. Maybe you’ve even been prescribed sleeping pills to help you get the sleep you’ve been yearning for. But did you know that there are natural remedies you could try at home without getting on medications? Here are some tips to treat your insomnia without medications:

1) Utilize your 5 senses: When you have insomnia, your body has a natural stress reaction when it’s time to sleep. The problem with this is that your body has a hard time resting when you’re stressed out. To counter the effects of stress, you have to trick your body into being relaxed at bedtime so that it can actually shut down. To do this, try to engage your five senses.

Sense of smell: You can engage your sense of smell by using calming scents. It’s always advisable to stay away from synthetic fragrances that could trigger respiratory problems or allergies. Reach for calming essential oils such as lavender. Some people apply it topically, while others put a few drops in a diffuser right before bedtime.

Sense of sight: Your bedroom should be welcoming to look at. Paint your walls in a relaxing tone so that you feel enveloped in warmth every time you walk into your bedroom. When you come home after a long day, spend 10 minutes to put away clutter and any other stray items that are around you. The goal is to have your room feel like a sanctuary so that when you walk in, your brain automatically feels relaxed. Create your own spa-like environment.

Sense of touch: Wash your sheets regularly- perhaps weekly. That way your body only comes in contact with fabrics that feel cozy and relaxing. Dirty, rough sheets can be quite uncomfortable and discomfort certainly will not promote relaxing sleep. Utilize soft sheets and cozy fabrics so that you can just sink into it without having to think too much about it.

Sense of taste: An hour before bedtime, create a winding down routine for yourself. Some people like to drink herbal non caffeinated teas, others reach for a glass of water. It doesn't matter which one you go for, as long as it feels soothing to you. However, avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine a few hours before bed as alcohol can ruin your deep sleep, while caffeine can keep you awake longer at night.

Sense of Hearing: To create a relaxing environment that promotes sleep, consider utilizing a white noise machine or even using sounds of nature. Some people like the sound of the waves, while others like the sound of thunder. It doesn't matter which sound you choose, as long as it sounds relaxing to you.

2) Watch your caffeine use: Many insomniacs rely heavily on caffeine to keep them awake during the day. The problem with drinking multiple cups of coffee is that your body doesn’t get a chance to fully eliminate the caffeine in your system before bedtime. So if you drink multiple cups of coffee each day, chances are your body will still be filled with caffeine by bedtime, thereby keeping you awake. The solution? Don’t drink caffeine after 12pm.

3) Open up your blinds: When you wake up in the morning, open up your blinds. When the sunlight hits your eyes, your body begins to produce adenosine, which sends a signal to your brain to wake you up. The longer you stay up during the day, the stronger the urge for sleep at night will be. So even though you might be exhausted from insomnia in the morning, make an attempt to open up your blinds so that some sunlight can come in. Your body will thank you later.

4) Create a bedtime routine: When you were younger, I bet you your guardian or parent had a set bedtime for you. But chances are as you got older and you began to have more freedom, and you became more and more lax about bedtime. When you have a regular bedtime and a nighttime routine, your body knows when it’s expected to rest and when it’s expected to relax. So, set a specific bedtime and wake up time each day for the next two weeks and notice the difference it’ll make with your sleep quality.

5) Drop the phone and tablet: So we all know that technology can be our friend. However if you’ve formed the habit of holding on to your phone at night, its time to break up with it. Many phones and tablets emit a blue light that prevents the body from producing melatonin. And your body needs melatonin to sleep well at night. The solution? Put away phones and tablets an hour before bed. I know it might me hard to break the habit, but the results will blow your mind.

What is one change you’d like to make regarding your sleep? If you currently struggle with insomnia and you are looking for help getting a good night’s sleep, call 951-905-3181. I provide insomnia treatment in Murrieta and online. You can also email me here to schedule a free 15- minute phone consultation so that you can learn how to get rid of insomnia.

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What exactly is insomnia?

I’ve heard quite a lot of people say “I have insomnia,” but did you know that not everyone who struggles with sleep actually has insomnia? According to the National Sleep Foundation, insomnia can be described as “Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, even when a person has the chance to do so.” Insomnia can either be acute or chronic.

Acute insomnia occurs for a short period of time, and is often because of something happening in your life. For example, a new baby, a relocation, temporary change in your work schedule, short term stress or a death in the family. After the stressful situation has passed, your sleep will sometimes return to normal.

Chronic insomnia on the other hand, is insomnia that occurs about three times a week and lasts for about three months. This is typically the type of insomnia that I see in my practice. Sometimes this type of insomnia is caused by physical health problems, anxiety, depression, medication side effects, or even one’s environment. Individuals with chronic insomnia often feel frustrated and discouraged from the constant lack of sleep. They might notice impairment in their work and it could even affect their relationships and energy levels.

Now that you know about acute and chronic insomnia, let’s talk about the criteria for insomnia according to the DSM 5, which is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition. It’s essentially the encyclopedia for mental health disorders:

A) Being dissatisfied with the quantity or quality of sleep and with the following symptoms:

1) Difficulty initiating sleep.

2) Difficulty maintaining sleep (waking up frequently and having difficulty going back to sleep upon awakening).

3) Waking up early in the morning and not being able to go back to sleep.

B. The disturbance in sleep causes a significant impairment in your social, educational or occupational functioning. This means you might be falling asleep at work, you might not go out with friends because you’re too tired or you might make mistakes at work.

C. The difficulty with sleep occurs for at least 3 nights a week.

D. The difficulty with sleep occurs for at least 3 months.

E. Difficulty sleeping despite opportunities to sleep. This means even though you have a cozy bed and an opportunity to lay down, you still are unable to sleep. This is quite different from someone who cannot sleep because he or she does not have a place to sleep due to homelessness, war or an unsafe situation.

F. The insomnia cannot be explain by another sleep disorder (such as narcolepsy or a breathing disorder). Sometimes one might think one has insomnia, but upon visiting the doctor, you might realize that you have problems with your breathing or you might even have another sleep disorder, which better explains your sleep woes.

G. The sleep disturbance isn’t being caused by substance use. Some substances such as alcohol or stimulants might actually keep you up for long periods of time or disturb your sleep long term.

H. Other mental health disturbances aren’t causing the difficulty sleeping. Sometimes other mental health disorders such as generalized anxiety, phobias, panic disorder, depression or Bipolar disorder could better explain the reason why you’re not sleeping.

So there you have it. A detailed explanation of what insomnia is. If you have read through the above criteria, and you believe you are struggling with insomnia, there is hope. CBT for insomnia is the gold standard for insomnia treatment. If you’re in the Murrieta/Temecula area and you’re ready to get the best sleep of your life, call 951-905-3181 for your free 15 minute phone consultation to see if CBT for insomnia is right for you. I also provide online insomnia treatment for people within California. Get the sleep you deserve now.

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Find out the 5 myths about insomnia that are keeping you awake- and how YOU can finally sleep!

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5 Causes of insomnia you should know about

Insomnia can feel like an awful burden. The constant tossing and turning before you finally drift off to sleep. The hours and hours spent staring at the ceiling can be so frustrating. I’ve heard people say “My dad had insomnia, so I have it too.” That type of thinking makes one give up- as if it is hereditary. The good news I have for you is that insomnia does not have to be a lifelong curse. You can indeed find a cure for your insomnia. But before we get into insomnia treatments, let’s focus on 5 things that might be preventing you from getting the quality sleep you deserve:

1) Alcohol use: I’ve heard a lot of people use the term “Night cap” to refer to a nightly drink of alcohol. We even see it in the movies. You sit back, pour a glass of wine and use it as a relaxation tool after a long day of work. While a glass of wine in itself isn’t bad for you, the quantity of alcohol you drink as well as the time you drink it could be affecting your sleep. Now I’m well aware that many people feel relaxed after a glass of wine and might even drift off to a cozy sleep. But for others, alcohol actually affects their sleep quality.

Alcohol can actually shorten the length of your deep sleep and also create fragmented sleep. So in a bid to cure your sleep problems with alcohol, you actually end up with shorter sleep and your sleep becomes disturbed throughout the night. This could lead to more night time awakenings and more tiredness in the morning. So to be on the safe side, either avoid alcohol a few hours before bed, or don’t drink it at all.

2) Screen time: We live in a digital world. We are glued to our electronic devices more than ever before. While technology can be very helpful with daily tasks, our devices can actually prevent us from getting the sleep we crave. Cell phones and tablets emit a blue light that send a signal to the brain, preventing it from producing melatonin. And we need melatonin for sleep. So to be safe, put aside your devices an hour before bedtime. Give your body time to produce the melatonin it needs to relax for the night.

3) Exercise: You’ve heard that 30 minutes of exercise a day is recommended for a healthy body. Exercise is also great for your heart, your lungs, and many other organs. However if you exercise at the wrong time, you might actually be preventing sleep and triggering insomnia. When you work out, your body temperature increases, and signals to your brain that you should wake up. After a few hours, your body temperature will naturally fall, signaling to your brain that you should get ready to sleep. But if you exercise too close to bed time, your body temperature will rise, and your body might not know that you should be getting ready to sleep. If you struggle with insomnia, limit exercise to no less than 4 hours before your bedtime, so you can give your body a chance to reduce its temperature and produce melatonin for sleep.

4) Irregular bedtime: We all know that bedtimes are great for kids, but the problem is that some adults completely do away with the idea of a bedtime due to busy work schedules, irregular traveling schedules, or personal commitments. The thing is your body works like a well oiled machine. When you sleep at odd times, your body becomes unsure of when it is expected to rest. The solution? If you struggle with insomnia or some other sleep disorder, go to bed within the same hour each day. Create a good routine for yourself so that your body knows when to shut down and when to wake up each day.

5) Uncomfortable surroundings: Your bedroom should feel like a sanctuary. But for many, the bedroom doubles as a work room or an office. While this might be practical, it could confuse your body into thinking that nighttime is work time, rather than sleep time. If your bedroom is filled with clutter, your sheets are dirty and rough, or your bedroom smells old and stale, all these factors could prevent your body from feeling relaxed enough to shut down. Let’s face it, you wouldn’t feel relaxed in an uncomfortable environment either. If you can, take your computer out of your bedroom. Wash your sheets regularly and air out your room regularly so that fresh air can come in. You’ll notice the difference in your sleep quality.

If you are struggling with insomnia and your unsure of how to treat it, I provide insomnia treatment in Murrieta and online. Call 951-905-3181 to schedule a free consultation to see if CBT for insomnia treatment will help you get the sleep you’ve been yearning for. You an also email me here.

ready to finally sleep?

Find out the 5 myths about insomnia that are keeping you awake- and how YOU can finally sleep.

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Do this to sleep like a baby at night

I have always been a big believer in self advocacy. When you struggle with insomnia, it's important to try out different avenues so that you can perhaps figure out the cause of your insomnia. Here are 6 things you can do to help you sleep better at night.

1) Ask your doctor about your medications: Some medications can change your sleep cycle. If you are currently on any medications, it's important to have a discussion with your prescribing physician about how your medications could be affecting your sleep. But if you don't talk to your physician about sleep patterns, you could continue to struggle with sleep. Sometimes a little self advocacy cab go a long way.

Concerned about your sleep meds? Read more about sleep medication here. Insomnia and sleep Insomnia chronicles: The scary truth about those sleeping pills you take

2) Try journaling: Often times, anxiety or worries can bring on sleeplessness. If your mind is spinning around with worry thoughts, it is going to be difficult to get good quality sleep. About 30 minutes to an hour before your bed time, sit in a quiet spot and write out what's bothering you. Some people like to write in full sentences, while others use bullet points. If you're creative, you could even draw how you feel or write some poetry about it. The point of journaling is to wrap up your day and get your worries out on paper, so they stop swimming around in your head. 

While journaling, if important tasks for the next day pop up in your mind, it's also a great time to create a to do list for the next day. 

3) Avoid alcohol, nicotine and caffeine a few hours before bedtime: It is an erroneous thought to believe that a 'night cap' is actually helpful for sleep. Actually, alcohol, nicotine and caffeine can interrupt your sleep patterns and worsen your insomnia. In the case of caffeine, it has a half life of 5 hours. This means it takes 5 hours for half the amount of caffeine you drink to be fully metabolized (absorbed) into your system. If you drink multiple cups of coffee throughout the day, you are essentially layering more and more caffeine in your body. So, by night time, chances are all that caffeine is still in there keeping you awake.

And if you find yourself awake late at night, click here to read about Insomnia tips: 10 things to do when you can't sleep at night

4) Practice relaxation about an hour before bedtime: The concept is simple- a relaxed mind is calm, and calmness helps you sleep. But a worried and harried mind is a bad environment for sleep. Remember that your mind and your body are connected. About an hour before bedtime, do something relaxing. Some examples are yoga, medication, prayer, stretches, breathing techniques or listening to soothing music. Let's not forget your sense of smell. Try using a drop of your favorite essential oil and also putting on soft, cozy pajamas. It would also help if your sheets are cool, clean and soft. To help your sense of sight, dim the lights or close the blinds, so that your body's sleep mechanism can also be triggered.

5) Take a nap: Many people who struggle with insomnia or sleep disorders often feel a dip in energy in the middle of the day. If your schedule permits, try taking one 30-minute nap in the middle of the day. This helps to recharge you, but doesn't get you so awake that you cannot sleep at night. Although naps can be beneficial, avoid napping in the evening or too close to bedtime. If you do this, you'll be wide awake at night.  

There you have it. 5 easy tips to help you sleep like a baby. And if you're a woman in Murrieta or Temecula who has struggled with insomnia, and you're ready to sleep soundly again, click here to schedule a free 15 minute consultation call to see if CBT for insomnia is the right treatment for your insomnia. I also provide online sessions for women throughout California.

ready to finally sleep?

Find out the 5 myths about insomnia that are keeping you awake- and how YOU can finally sleep!

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Could CBT for Insomnia be the solution to your insomnia woes?

Insomnia is experienced by about 3 million people in the US alone. It often is accompanied by a bit of anxiety and frustration. Sleep becomes an ugly word and the bedroom is thought of as a dreaded place. Insomnia is especially difficult because a lack of sleep can lead to negative mood, reduced concentration during the day and even some grogginess. Sleep loss actually fatigues the connection between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. this simply means it has a negative effect in the actual brain structure. 

Traditional insomnia treatments often include the use of benzodiazepines or sleeping pills, which often come with side effects or a risk of dependency. Plus the truth is these pills don't actually cure insomnia- they merely treat the symptoms on a day to day basis. Click here to read my previous blog post Insomnia and sleep Insomnia chronicles: The scary truth about those sleeping pills you take

What if you're looking for an insomnia treatment without the use of pills? Enter Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). CBT-I is a 6 to 8-week treatment for people who struggle with insomnia. It's useful in both men and women- regardless of age or the amount of years you've struggled with sleep problems. 

It involves a weekly meeting with a therapist or sleep specialist who is trained in CBT-I to discuss a tailored treatment plan for you. Understand that if you do not follow through with your sleep plan, CBT-I will not work for you. But if you collaborate with your therapist and follow through each day, over the course of as little as 6 weeks, you will see a drastic improvement in your sleeping patterns. All the research actually shows that CBT-I is more effective than sleeping pills. Read more about CBT for Insomnia here.

CBT-I has been tagged as the most effective treatment for any adult mental health problem. It's been sanctioned by: 

• The Mayo Clinic

• Stanford Health Care

• Harvard Health

• The Veterans Health Administration 

CBT for insomnia involves an initial assessment by a therapist or sleep specialist. During this assessment we'll go over all the details of your insomnia, and we will also rule out causes of your insomnia such as stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, among many other factors.

You'll also meet with your therapist 5 more times. The first 3 sessions are weekly, and the last 2 are biweekly. If you need additional sessions or a booster after a few months, that could also be arranged.

As a licensed marriage and family therapist who provides counseling and therapy to women with anxiety, I also provide insomnia treatment in Murrieta using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). For women within California who are too far away from the Murrieta, Temecula or Menifee, I provide insomnia treatment online.

CBT for Insomnia (or CBT-I) is a 6 to 8 week treatment for people who struggle with insomnia. It's the first line insomnia treatment in the USA and it is highly recommended by sleep researchers and sleep experts. Click here to schedule your free 15 minute consultation call so that insomnia can be a thing of the past.

Find out how CBT for insomnia can help you sleep again in as little as 5 sessions.

ready to finally sleep?

Find out the 5 insomnia myths that are keeping you awake- and how YOU can FINALLY sleep!

get your free download now

5 habits that keep your insomnia going strong

Your least favorite time of the day is night time. While the world is fast asleep, you spend your time tossing and turning. Perhaps you just lay in bed and try to count sheep, but after doing this for months- or maybe even years- it's aggravating.

Or perhaps you actually fall asleep like a baby each night, but the moment you wake up to sip some water or go to the bathroom, you lose the urge to sleep. You've done several Google searches to help you curb your insomnia, but nothing has worked. You've tried downloading every app, but it only works for a short while.

What if I told you that you that your habits could be making your sleep disorder worse? Perhaps your insomnia is actually caused by some of your habits. Well today is your lucky day. Here are 5 habits you need to stop to restore your sleep and improve your insomnia.

1) Taking your electronics with you to bed: These days our gadgets are almost an extension of us. We take our phones with us to the gym, to the store, to the bedroom and even to the bathroom (you know you do this). However these laptops, phones and tablets that are so dear to us emit blue light. The blue light actually sends a signal to your brain and tells it to reduce its production of melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone that helps you maintain your sleep cycle. With this reduced production of melatonin, your sleep cycle is off and your body will think it needs to sleep less.

The solution: To make your life easier, just turn off your electronics about 1 hour before bedtime. If you feel like you absolutely can't do it, just keep them out of arm's reach.

2) Drinking coffee or caffeine all day long: Most people who struggle with sleep problems or insomnia drink quite a lot of coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help manage the grogginess and sour mood they experience in the morning. However, caffeine has a half life of approximately 5 hours. This means it takes 5 hours for your body to completely get rid of half the amount of caffeine you drank. So if you're drinking more than 1 cup of coffee a day, you're pretty much layering the effects of caffeine in your system.

The solution: To get good quality sleep, limit caffeine intake to no more than 1 or 2 cups in the morning. After noon, stay away from coffee, energy drinks and any other stimulant. This will give your body time to get rid of it completely before night time.

3) Staying in bed when you can't sleep: Many people with insomnia remain in bed for hours when they can't sleep. They'll toss and turn for hours. What this does is it sends a message to your brain that the bedroom is a place of anguish. Your bedroom should really be your vacation spot. When you walk in, you should think "I cannot wait to lay on my comfy bed." Not, "Ugh! My awful bedroom again." When you have negative thoughts about your bedroom, it'll sour your feelings and ruin your sleep pattern.

The solution: If you can't sleep after 30 minutes of laying in bed, get up. Go over to another room, do something relaxing for 30 minutes, then return to bed. Whatever you do, DO NOT pick up any electronics. Remember that blue light is exposure is bad for melatonin production.

4) Working in your room: I'm very guilty of this. I love my room so much that it's my favorite place to think and write. No I'm not writing this post from my bed. When it comes to sleep, it's important to trick your brain. The ideal scenario is to work somewhere else, wind down an hour before bed, then come into your room about 30 minutes before bed time. So the brain automatically knows that it should begin to shut down once you step into the bedroom. But when you work and use your laptop while in your bed, your brain doesn't know that it should shut down. The bedroom becomes a trigger for brain activity, rather than brain rest. You get it?

The solution: Use your bedroom for relaxing activities only. Don't do any writing, intense TV watching, talking on the phone, arguing, or anything upsetting in your bedroom. Use it as your sanctuary.

5) Sleeping in on the weekends: Many people make up for lost sleep over the weekend. They'll go to bed extra late, then get up at noon. The problem is if you sleep in 2 days in a row, that's enough to disrupt your sleep pattern. Your body needs to know when to produce adenosine (the hormone that's responsible for your wake up cycle), and when to start producing melatonin (the sleep hormone). If you aren't being exposed to sunlight, your body won't know to keep you awake, then by Monday you'll end up groggy when you should be alert.

The solution: Don't sleep in for more than an hour on the weekends. If you typically get up at 6am during the week, you should be up and out of bed by 7am. This helps your body maintain a regular sleep-wake pattern.

And if you would like to learn about some other habits to help you sleep, here is a list of habits to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

Read more about how your thoughts could also affect insomnia and sleep here.

Those are your first few steps in beginning to retrain your brain so that your insomnia can be a thing of the past. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist who provides counseling and therapy to women with anxiety. I also provide insomnia treatment in Murrieta using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). For women within California who are too far away from the Murrieta, Temecula or Menifee areas, I provide insomnia treatment online.

CBT-I is a 5 to 8 week treatment for people who struggle with insomnia. It's the first line insomnia treatment in the USA and it is highly recommended by sleep researchers and experts. Click here to schedule your free 15 minute consultation call so that insomnia can be a thing of the past.

ready to finally sleep?

Find out the 5 myths about insomnia that are keeping you awake- and how YOU can FINALLY sleep!

get your free download now