Anxiety and mood issues can cause insomnia or frequent sleep disturbances. The lack of effective sleep, in turn, then becomes a stress which maintains the problem. By getting your sleep straightened out, it can become a foundational support to your overall health, rather than a stressor.
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) to provide education on healthy sleep and teach sleep hygiene. We can then work on identifying your particular sleep dysfunction issues and start correcting them. Sleep issues are behavioral habits that can be strong and persistent, but also modified quickly with intervention. If there is an underlying medical issue impacting your sleep, like sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome, we can work with your physician to treat the underlying cause and then clean up the behavioral patterning.
I also incorporate mindfulness techniques that support sleep. This will help you rest through calming your mind and body. You will learn to shift your perspective from worry to feeling that you are doing something to help, which will also help to maximize your rest. You will also learn to rest your attention on a focal point, which can stop your mind from overworking and assist it in settling and reviving for the following day.
Correcting sleep issues is generally an area that we can make improvements quickly and it creates a huge difference in your quality of life. Making sure that your health foundation is strong, supports mood stability and anxiety management. We may also discuss other foundation issues like healthy eating, adequate hydration, and exercise. All of our systems work together and improving one supports health in all. If you are interested in improving your sleep and mental health, contact Dr. Kircher today to discuss scheduling a free consultation today in her office or by secure video.