Insomnia

Insomnia is a common problem associated with increased risk for psychological issues such as depression, medical issues such as hypertension, work issues such as absenteeism, and lower quality of life. Many factors can contribute to insomnia including psychological issues, medical conditions, environmental factors, and medications.

Insomnia can include trouble falling asleep or trouble staying asleep, trouble going back to sleep after awakening, or waking up too early.

Treatment options for insomnia include cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and hypnotic medications. Hypnotic medications may be associated with tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms, such as rebound insomnia, if a drug is abruptly stopped.

CBT-I can benefit most people with insomnia, including older adults. The effects of CBT-I are long lasting and there is no evidence of negative side effects.

Dr. McMahon can help you learn to get better sleep with CBT-I. Unlike medications, CBT-I does not interfere with restful sleep, prevent you from awakening if needed, or leave you groggy.

By working with Dr. McMahon, you can learn to:

• Recognize and change beliefs that interfere with your ability to sleep. For example, learning how to control or eliminate negative thoughts or worries that keep you awake.
• Develop good sleep habits and avoid behaviors that keep you from sleeping well.

In addition to CBT-I, Dr. McMahon also teaches self-hypnosis for insomnia.

For more information, call Dr. McMahon at 1-415-625-3565 or see Insomnia Treatment Without Medication.