- When is a sleep disorder considered worth treating?
- When you sleep poorly several times a week for at least a month and suffer during the day from exhaustion, concentration problems or irritability, this is a clear signal. At the latest when daily life is noticeably affected, therapy is worthwhile.
- What is the difference between problems falling asleep and staying asleep?
- With trouble falling asleep, you regularly need more than 30 minutes to fall asleep. With trouble staying asleep, you wake up several times at night and find it hard to fall back asleep. Both forms can occur separately or together and respond well to behavioural therapy.
- Which methods do you use?
- Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the most effective non-medication method. Building blocks include education about healthy sleep, stimulus control, sleep restriction, handling worries and shifting unhelpful thought patterns around sleep.
- How long does therapy for sleep disorders take?
- Relatively short: often between eight and sixteen sessions. First improvements often appear after a few weeks once the initial behavioural changes are implemented consistently.
- Are sleeping pills a solution?
- Sleeping pills can bring short-term relief, but they do not address the underlying cause and carry the risk of habituation. Behavioural therapy works sustainably by changing the underlying patterns. Temporary medication support can be sensible and is prescribed by a physician.
