Insomnia: It's not just a "Night Thing"

If you are like 70% of Americans, your typical bedtime routine involves a lot of tossing and turning in attempt to settle your mind and body down for a good night's rest. New research reported in the journal "Sleep" shows that insomniacs not have more active brains at night, but throughout the day aw well. Their brains are always "on." The study discovered that, when compared to sound sleepers, insomniacs are not only more alert throughout the day, but they also have more brain plasticity. This might seem like a good thing, but this increased plasticity indicates their brains are hyper-aroused, meaning their brains have increased excitability.

This increased excitability can wreak havoc on insomniac's cognitive and emotional health. Insomniacs often experience racing thoughts throughout the day. This can interfere with concentration, memory, organization and time management, as well as create hyperactivity and impulsivity. In addition, individuals with racing thoughts frequently report feeling anxious, stressed and tense.

Pharmaceutical approaches to insomnia generally focus only on the insomnia, disregarding the daytime experience of the insomniacs brain. Sleep aids may help the insomniac find rest, but they do little for the daytime affects of the insomniacs hyper-aroused brain. At Carter Counseling Center, we take more of a "big picture" approach to insomnia by providing a way to modify unhealthy wave patterns. Through the process of neurofeedback, healthier brainwave patterns are learned and reinforced. Thee patterns generalize to both awake and sleep sates, reducing both night time and daytime symptoms.

If you or someone you love are suffering from insomnia and would like to learn more about how neurofeedback may be able to help, call and schedule your free 30 minute consultation with Trish today!

by Trish Carter, LIMHP, LPC, BCN