McDonough, GA—Insomnia Counseling
Just in the United States alone, between a third and a half of all people suffer from insomnia, or have difficulty sleeping. If you suffer from insomnia, you know that it either makes it difficult for you to fall asleep, stay asleep, or get back to sleep after waking up. Many people turn to medication to help relieve their symptoms, but pills aren’t always the answer. For those who suffer from insomnia but choose not to use medication, there is another way to find some relief. Counseling for insomnia is your best option for overcoming your condition without experiencing any side effects. But before the merits of counseling for insomnia are discussed, let’s go over why sleeping pills may not be your best option.
How Do Sleeping Pills Affect Those with Insomnia?
The majority of sleeping pills fall under the classification of “sedative hypnotics,” which are used to induce and maintain sleep. Some cause drowsiness, leading to sleep. Others depress the central nervous system, causing sedation. Then, others affect brain chemicals such as melatonin or orexin, to aid in falling asleep.
Depending on the type of pill you are using, it may be likely you’ll become addicted or have a heavy dependence on the medication. For example, when anti-anxiety medications are used to induce drowsiness, it’s recommended that they be used only for the short-term due to the fact that you may become addicted and may experience memory and attention issues.
Those that affect the central nervous system can be prescribed but they are most commonly used for anesthesia, as prolonged or excessive use can lead to fatal overdose. Finally, those that affect your brain’s melatonin and orexin are not addictive or habit-forming, making them the safest insomnia medications for long-term use.
Everybody is different, meaning side effects will vary, but some common ones include: headaches, daytime drowsiness, and dizziness. There are better and worse side effects but each case is different.
How Does Insomnia Counseling Help?
Perhaps the most significant difference between sleep medications and insomnia counseling is the fact that medications may help you sleep, but they won’t address the underlying cause of insomnia. This means you won’t be able to cure the problem. That’s where cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) comes in.
CBT is the most commonly used method of therapy for those suffering from insomnia. So, what is CBT? It’s an individualized type of therapy, tailored to your specific needs. And, as the name suggests, it’s a type of therapy that focuses on two different components:
- Cognitive Therapy: This type of therapy helps you to uncover the negative thoughts and emotions in your life, so that you can address them, and overcome them. These negative thoughts contribute to your brain’s inability to sleep, so changing them will result in better sleep.
- Behavioral Therapy: With this type of therapy, you’ll learn how to change or avoid behaviors that keep you from falling asleep. You’ll learn better habits that lead to better sleep.
It’s important to remember that changing your thoughts and habits will take time. Making an effort to implement the strategies and methods your therapist introduces to you will result in better sleep, but you do have to work for it. Yes, medications can help you to fall asleep, but they are not a cure. Insomnia counseling is the only method that addresses what is actually causing your sleep issues, leading to a cure if you are willing to make the necessary changes in your life.
Curing insomnia is a long and bumpy road, but you can get there, with the help of a Thriveworks McDonough insomnia therapist’s guidance. If you’re searching for insomnia counseling in McDonough, insomnia counseling in Stockbridge, insomnia counseling in Locust Grove, insomnia counseling in Jackson, insomnia counseling in Griffin, or insomnia counseling in Morrow and surrounding areas, call us today. We’re conveniently located south of Atlanta, GA. We accept insurance. Treatment for insomnia may be more affordable than you thought.
Call now to schedule your appointment with an insomnia counselor. Call us today at 678-853-5849!
