Behavioral therapy for sleep problems

[wireless]

Should I keep an open mind and be willing to try this therapy from a psychologist who is C.B.S.M.? (Certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine)

I just think that I am biologically wired to have different sleep patterns, where I'll have major insomnia on week 1, then sleep excessively on week 2, etc. (The pattern is not quite so simple though.)

I am not sure they can tell me anything that's not already in the books. Light in the morning, warm milk, gradual changes, no napping, hypnosis CD's, mindfulness, etc, etc, etc.

It seems like, sure I could force myself to get in a pattern, and when I want to stay awake and do something fun, I can try to do that, but it would just interfere with a lot of enjoyment. Then again, I do think it would make my awake time more predictable and I should have more energy.

I feel like my time/money/energy is better spent on working on other parts of my health.

[Julie]

Have you considered getting a sleep study to find out if in fact you do have some kind of sleep disorder? You may not realize it, but there are quite a few out there, some a lot less well known than apnea and with very different treatment options. A referral to a neurologist might be a place to start.

[Slinky]

AND erratic, non-restorative sleep contributes to or is even the underlying direct cause of MANY health problems!

[wireless]

Yes, I have major problems, many of which I wouldn't have if I were getting good sleep.

My sleep doctor is the one who says I should go to the therapist so that I can break the bad patterns and have good sleep hygiene. In addition to using my BiPAP.

I think that I need to get my allergies treated and maybe one or two other problems, then I could sleep better, but sure my lifestyle is part of it. But it's just me making use of my energy whenever I happen to have it, or when I am forced to because I have some important work I have to do.

I think I have circadian rhythm problems, but they never said something was wrong with mine after my sleep study.

[JayC]

I have had my neuro (a behavorial neurologist (whatever that actually means!!)) recommend a sleep psychologist follow-up.

He did send me for MRI, EEG and seizure specialist consult (she did 72 hour home EEG as well)....then sleep study, and a new patient appointment with Sleep clinic. That's where I got specifically prescribed APAP (and for all I know the actual model).

The sleep psychologist is part of the Sleep Clinic, but not the Sleep doc I see.

All of this is at a hospital that is part of the Harvard Medical School teaching hospital network.

I was referred to the neuro in the first place by my psychiatrist (MD) who KNOWS that I am not and probably haven't ever been a typical clinical depression patient for the bulk of my life. She suspects this given my response to anti-depressant (over the last 15 years, as well as her direct treatment of me for 5 years). She is also the supervising MD of the program I am in for therapy. THis is NOT a matter or untreated depression as the neuro is attempting to assert. Of course, I am grateful he is continuing to refer me to investigate things even as this is forward in his mind.

Given my overwhelming positive response to CPAP treatment, he is coming around. Now, I am going to give sleep psychologist a fair try, as I think I have habit issues from having at least 2 types of insomnia for most of my life. I stay up late as I am used to being good for not much come morning (and often into the afternoon) in terms of mental productivity and alertness.

I figure it is worth it to see what s/he has to say, instead of me assuming I;m JUST going to get the sleep hygiene lecture. I DO do many of the positive sleep hygiene things, but also have this previously necessary pattern of staying up and taking advantage of the late night productivity.

Perhaps it is worth a try, for both of us. Can always decide after an intro session or two whether we are ready to make shifts in our previously necessary rhythms and habits.

I figure I'll get an appointment for sometime later this fall (after I see my sleep doc in October).

I'll report here how it goes, and what the focus/plan is. If it was just a sleep hygiene matter, we wouldn't be on CPAP, now would we?

J

[roster]

Do you monitor your xpap therapy with software? I would make it a priority to use my time/energy/money to get a very good xpap therapy. Then your other problems may go away.

[ozij]

Should I keep an open mind and be willing to try this therapy from a psychologist who is C.B.S.M.? (Certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine)

I just think that I am biologically wired to have different sleep patterns, where I'll have major insomnia on week 1, then sleep excessively on week 2, etc. (The pattern is not quite so simple though.)

I am not sure they can tell me anything that's not already in the books. Light in the morning, warm milk, gradual changes, no napping, hypnosis CD's, mindfulness, etc, etc, etc.

It seems like, sure I could force myself to get in a pattern, and when I want to stay awake and do something fun, I can try to do that, but it would just interfere with a lot of enjoyment. Then again, I do think it would make my awake time more predictable and I should have more energy.

I feel like my time/money/energy is better spent on working on other parts of my health.

My sleep doctor is the one who says I should <snip> break the bad patterns and have good sleep hygiene. In addition to using my BiPAP.

I think that I need to get my allergies treated and maybe one or two other problems, then I could sleep better, but sure my lifestyle is part of it. But it's just me making use of my energy whenever I happen to have it, or when I am forced to because I have some important work I have to do.

You will be setting you yourself and the psychologist to fail. You enjoy your present life style, you have grave doubts about the value of a change, do not believe meeting a psychologist has any added value to what you may find in books. I think your present life style gives you a great sense of indivduality and control - and changing it would mean being just all lilke all those other boring, patterned, people who have been ignoring what you want and trying to force you into patterns, telling you when to go to sleep ever since you were very young. Bowing down to them now is out of the question.

How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb? One. But the light bulb must want to change.



O.

[carbonman]

How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb? One. But the light bulb must want to change.O.

Great point!....well taken.

I did my CBT work 2yrs ago. Unknown to me, at the time, I could not fight back,
because I was so tired.........OSA. Guided by a kind, tough and very knowledgable
professional, I made the journey to and through the gates of my personal hell,
and stood toe to toe w/my demons.
I did not excise them, but I manage them now, they don't manage me.

I did not give up my life style or bow down to anyone, as a result of that work.
Quite the contrary, I took control of myself and was freed to make MY choices,
unencumbered by fear, anger, rage, guilt, regret or any number of agents
that seek to control our lives.
I took control of my life, as I never had before.

Should I keep an open mind and be willing to try this therapy from a psychologist who is C.B.S.M.? (Certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine)
I feel like my time/money/energy is better spent on working on other parts of my health.

Might be worth a look.
If it is not for you, leave a trail of crumbs to find your
way back to the path you are on now.....
no harm, no foul.