INSOMNIA TREATMENT IN VIRGINIA

We understand how maddening insomnia can be. Let us help you get your sleeping habits back on track.

Insomnia treatment

IMPROVE RELAXATION & SLEEP

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, difficult to stay asleep or causes you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. Interrupted or lack of sleep can sap not only your energy level and mood but also your health, work performance and quality of life. At some point, many adults experience a short-term inability to sleep, lasting for days or weeks, usually resulting from stress or a traumatic event. Long-term, chronic sleep troubles lasts for a month or more and can occur independently or be associated with other medical conditions or medications.

SYMPTOMS OF INSOMNIA

There are many symptoms of sleep issues that occur both at night and during waking hours. These include:

• Difficulty falling asleep at night
• Waking up during the night
• Waking up too early
• Not feeling well-rested after a night’s sleep
• Daytime tiredness or sleepiness
• Irritability, depression or anxiety
• Difficulty paying attention, focusing on tasks or remembering details
• Increased errors or accidents
• Ongoing worries about sleep

Identifying your symptoms and talking to your healthcare provider is the first step in determining the potential cause of your sleep disruptions.

CAUSES OF CHRONIC INSOMNIA

Insomnia may be the primary problem, or it may be associated with other conditions and pathologies. In some cases, treating the underlying cause of your sleep troubles can resolve symptoms— in others, it may last many years. Long-term insomnia is usually a result of stress, life events or habits that disrupt sleep. Common causes of long-term or chronic insomnia include:

  • Stress
  • Travel or work schedule
  • Poor sleep habits
  • Eating too much late in the evening
  • Mental health disorders
  • Medications
  • Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol
  • Medical conditions such as chronic pain, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), overactive thyroid, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease
  • Sleep-related disorders like sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome

DIAGNOSING INSOMNIA

At VitalCare Family Practice, we take a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating sleep conditions by helping patients rest more soundly and improve their overall well-being. Our healthcare providers will begin by performing a thorough evaluation to identify any potential causes of insomnia, including:

We will assess any underlying health conditions, medications you may be using currently and behavioral health factors that could be contributing to your sleep troubles.

Dr. Ravula will review your current sleep patterns and bedtime routines, as well as your sleep environment, to identify behaviors that may affect the quality of sleep.

Stress levels, caffeine and alcohol intake, physical activity and work schedules all play a role in your natural sleep cycle.

In certain cases, we may recommend a sleep study to rule out conditions such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome.

TREATING INSOMNIA

Once we confirm a diagnosis, our team tailors a treatment plan to address the root cause behind your sleep problems, which may include:

There are certain changes you can make in your life that may improve your sleep such as setting a routine sleep schedule, reducing stimulants before bed such as watching TV or browsing social media, and practicing relaxation techniques such as meditation.

For those struggling with insomnia but looking for a solution without prescription medication, CBT-I is a highly effective option widely recommended by providers. Your VitalCare Family Practice provider will partner with you to help your brain re-learn healthy sleep habits through techniques such as:

Stimulus Control — Your provider may recommend only trying to sleep while in bed, and not doing any other activities such as scrolling on your phone, watching TV or reading. Over time, this helps your brain associate the bed with sleep, making it easier to fall asleep. If you are still having trouble falling asleep after about 20 minutes, your provider may recommend leaving the bedroom until you feel tired and to try again later.

Sleep Restriction — The amount of time you spend in bed is adjusted based on how many hours of sleep you are actually getting each night. For example, if you go to bed at 11:00 p.m. and wake up at 8:00 a.m. but only get about six hours of sleep, your provider may recommend adjusting your wake-up time to 7:00 a.m. This can help you get consistent sleep throughout the night and can gradually be adjusted over time to encourage longer periods of restful sleep.

Cognitive Restructuring — A key component of CBT, cognitive restructuring helps address anxiety-inducing thoughts related to sleep. For example, replacing thoughts like, “If I don’t get eight hours of sleep, tomorrow will be horrible,” with healthier, more balanced thoughts such as, “Even if I have a hard time sleeping, my body will still get some rest.” Reducing these anxious thoughts can make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Sleep Hygiene — Adjusting lifestyle habits can greatly improve sleep quality. Your provider will discuss your sleep hygiene with you and help identify habits that may be impacting your sleep, such as consuming caffeine too late in the day, taking daytime naps or eating late at night. By improving sleep hygiene, many people experience significant and lasting improvements in their sleep.

If you are looking to treat chronic insomnia without medication, the providers at VitalCare Family Practice are here to partner with you every step of the way. Through personalized CBT-I treatment plans and compassionate support, we can help you build healthier sleep habits and get the restful sleep you deserve.

At VitalCare Family Practice, we prioritize non-medication approaches whenever possible. In certain situations, we may prescribe medications to help you sleep better while addressing any underlying issues.