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Aug 11, 2006 12:53 pm US/Eastern
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Health Alert: Sleep Therapy
by Stephanie Stahl
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
In health, ever spend nights tossing and turning, trying to fall asleep? Medications can sometimes help, but we've all heard about the potential side effects. Nnow there's a drug free remedy that's helping some people sleep easy.
Artist Chad Kleitsch battled with sleepless nights for ten long years.
"My insomnia got so bad in terms of the disruption in my life it was extending to almost everything," said Kleitsch.
Now Chad and many other insomniacs are getting the sleep they need, thanks to something called cognitive behavior therapy or C.B.T.
"Cognitive behavior therapy is as effective as medication for sleep problems," said insomnia expert Dr. Arthur Spielman.
With none of the potential side effects, insomnia expert Dr. Arthur Spielman says there's another plus.
"If you stop medications, your insomnia often returns. But if you are treated with cognitive behavior therapy, treatment endures," said Dr. Spielman.
A government sponsored study backs that up. C.B.T. focuses on changing the way people think about insomnia. Dr. Rachel Norwood says that's critical since in many cases insomnia is a learned process.
"It's as if we train our brains to be insomniacs. What C.B.T. attempts to do is recognize that this training has gone on, recognize the components, and then start systematically changing them," said Dr. Norwood.
It changes them by teaching patients to stop stressing about sleep and then change their behavior.
Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet, preserve your bedroom for sleep and sex," said Dr. Norwood.
Sleep restriction is another important tool meant to remind patients that quality is more important than quantity.
"We shorten the amount of time that they're allowed to be in the bed. They will fill whatever their ultimate window is with good, quality sleep," said Dr. Norwood.
Chad's used to a full eight hours now. That's up from the four to five he used to get.
"The promise was to be able to sleep through the night was totally worth it," said Dr. Norwood.
Experts say C.B.T. takes about four to eight weeks to work and is covered by many insurance companies. Be sure to first check with your doctor to see if an underlying medical condition is causing your sleep problems.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)