I hear a lot of different stories from people about how their chronic insomnia developed - and almost all of them follow a similar pattern. That's because chronic insomnia typically develops through a pathway that involves three specific factors.
First, some of us are just more predisposed to sleep disruption. For example, we may have a stressful job or just be more susceptible to worry or anxiety. This makes sleep disruption more likely at times of stress or worry.
Then there is typically an identifiable precipitating event. For example, we might move house, have an argument with our spouse, experience a health scare, travel overseas, or something else unusual might happen. This leads to sleep disruption, and such sleep disruption is normal and to be expected!
For most of us, sleep will recover once the precipitating event is no longer an issue because we don't become very concerned about sleep. We don't worry about it and we don't try to compensate for poor sleep.
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However, when we experience sleep disruption (especially if it doesn't go away after a few days) it's all too easy to become worried and concerned. This leads to more time spent thinking about sleep and attempting to fix sleep. Unfortunately, the behaviors we adopt in an attempt to get our sleep back on track usually perpetuate the problem and further entrench the sleep problem, and this leads to chronic insomnia.
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The good news is that if you recognize any part of this insomnia development cycle, then you can take comfort in the fact that your insomnia is not unusual - and, therefore, it can be addressed using the same cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) techniques that have worked for the overwhelming majority of others with chronic insomnia.
CBT-I techniques help address the perpetuating factors of insomnia to get your sleep back on track so you can enjoy better sleep for the long term.
Related video:
Why CBT-I is so effective when worry, anxiety, and a racing mind are fueling your chronic insomnia: • Why CBT-I is so effect...
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My name is Martin Reed and I am the founder of Insomnia Coach®. I offer sleep coaching services that give people with insomnia all the skills and support they need to enjoy better sleep for the rest of their lives. I also offer a free two-week sleep training course for people with insomnia at insomniacoach....
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