<p>   u00a0</p>  <div id="cke_pastebin">   <div id="cke_pastebin">    Research has suggested cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, can be as effective as drugs in treating chronic sleep problems.u00a0In fact, CBT has been shown to improve not only insomnia but also overall well- being and some symptoms of depression, Live science reported.</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    u00a0</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    A recent study has also suggested that taking sleeping pills to treat insomnia may shorten people&#39;s lives.u00a0&quot;There are major benefits for CBT over medication,&quot; said Dr. David Plante, a sleep specialist at the University of Wisconsin.</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    u00a0</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    &quot;You have long-term benefits, even after the treatment is done, which isn&#39;t usually the case for sleeping pills,&quot; he stated.u00a0CBT can treat insomnia without the use of sleeping pills. With the help of a sleep specialist, a person with insomnia learns to develop good sleeping habits and is taught skills to cope with sleep anxiety.</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    u00a0</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    Insomnia can last several weeks, and it can be a sign of other health problems, including sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, substance abuse or mental disorders.u00a0&quot;Chronic insomnia is a public health issue. With any patient, we try to weigh the benefits and risks of appropriate treatment,&quot; Plante said.</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    u00a0</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    Although some studies suggest the use of sleeping pills can be dangerous, experts still see them as beneficial for the short term.u00a0&quot;It&#39;s worthwhile to use sleep medications if someone is going through acute stress, or grief, for probably a month. But after that, they should be tapered off,&quot; said James Findley, a behavioural sleep specialist at the University of Pennsylvania.</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    u00a0</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    Sleeping pills tend to work quickly in relieving symptoms, but they carry the risk of becoming addictive, Findley said, and they don&#39;t help treat the underlying causes of sleep problems.u00a0&quot;Some people have tried multiple medications, but they become less effective over time,&quot; he added.u00a0While CBT is widely viewed as effective for insomnia, it isn&#39;t always available for everyone.</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    u00a0</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    Often, people who live in remote areas don&#39;t have access to specialists trained in CBT, or they can&#39;t find a specialist within their health care provider network.u00a0Furthermore, Plante said, &quot;sometimes patients may not want to do psychotherapy. They don&#39;t want to invest the time.&quot;u00a0Studies have shown that on average, it takes about eight weeks of CBT before sleep improves, according to Findley.</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    u00a0</div>   <div id="cke_pastebin">    But unlike sleeping pills, results tend to last, and the treatment helps with the problems connected with insomnia, such as depression and anxiety.u00a0In a study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, CBT was effective in treating up to 80 percent of people. Researchers also found that study participants maintained their sleep improvement for at least six months.u00a0&quot;We&#39;re always trying to minimize medication use and find other ways to treat insomnia,&quot; Plante said.</div>  </div>

Experts are increasingly recommending cognitive behavioural therapy, sometimes called talk therapy, over sleeping pills for treating people with insomnia.

Talk therapy better than sleeping pills for treating insomnia

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Lifestyle / Health & Fitness / Article / Talk therapy better than sleeping pills for treating insomnia

Talk therapy better than sleeping pills for treating insomnia

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast