Sleep Disorders

 Sleep Disorders

Sleep Disorders

Sleep Disorders

Sleep Disorders
Insomnia Treatment Program

Insomnia has become an epidemic. Half of all adults now complain of trouble sleeping, up from just one-third a few years ago. At least 30 million adults endure the stress of severe, chronic insomnia.

Why is insomnia so prevalent? One reason is its ubiquitous nature. It's easy to blame "trouble getting to sleep" on any number of factors in today's fast-paced, stress-filled world.

Most medical schools provide less than one hour of training on sleep disorders. The easiest way to "treat" insomnia is with medication (sleeping pills). This treats the symptom, not the problem. Medication may allow a person to achieve proper sleep, but once the person stops taking medication, the insomnia symptoms return. Sleeping pills are not considered a safe or appropriate treatment for chronic insomnia because they:
  • can have serious side effects that outweigh their benefit
  • are only moderately effective for insomnia and stop working over time
  • strengthen the belief that the cure for insomnia comes from external factors
  • can lead to physical or psychological dependency.

The Behavioral Medicine Insomnia Program is based on 10 years of research and clinical practice by Gregg D. Jacobs, Ph.D., at Harvard Medical School. This drug-free program is the only one scientifically proven to help insomniacs become normal sleepers. One hundred percent of the patients treated with this program have reported improved sleep; 90% have also decreased or eliminated the use of sleeping pills. The success of this program is based on a central theme that insomnia can only be treated by addressing all of the underlying causes. In most instances, the causes of insomnia are thoughts and behaviors that are learned. Because they are learned, they can also be unlearned.

The Behavioral Medicine Insomnia Program is an eight week program that consists of six two-hour treatment sessions (three weekly sessions followed by three biweekly sessions) conducted in a group format. Group sizes range from six to ten people who have insomnia. Each session typically will involve lecture and group discussion lead by trained sleep disorder professionals.

Contact the Lutheran Sleep Disorders Center for more information.

Lutheran Health Network Member