Why Insomniacs Don't Really Have Trouble SleepingThe irony of insomnia is that I can sleep almost anywhere. I easily fall asleep on the couch watching TV, on a train or plane, or on my hammock in... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Will My Insomnia Go Away After PTSD Treatment?Insomnia is common following a trauma, and it can stick around if a survivor struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). So will insomnia go away if you treat PTSD? Maybe... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Can Scheduling Your Worries Improve Your Sleep?I bet you’re familiar with the pattern of nodding off on the couch, dragging yourself into bed, laying your head on the pillow, and immediately remembering all the things you... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Caffeine: My Favorite NemesisI’ve loved coffee my whole life. It’s normal for children to drink coffee in my family’s culture. I vividly recall having a mug every morning alongside my bowl of Cocoa... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
3 Reasons to Ignore Your Sleep TrackerMany people with insomnia, myself included, can become obsessed with tracking their sleep or lack thereof. How many hours did I sleep? How many times did I wake up during the... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Sleep Reactivity: The Problem I Didn’t Know I HadAfter writing an article about how quickly a change in routine could trigger my insomnia, I started reading more about the trait that researchers call "sleep reactivity.” Once I learned... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
"Sleep Hygiene" Is a Dirty PhraseEvery person with insomnia has been advised to work on their sleep hygiene. Most of us have tried to make the suggested changes, yet they rarely work to repair our... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
How a Change in Routine Opened the Door for InsomniaOn an academic level, I know that maintaining a routine during the day helps you regulate sleep at night. Eating meals at consistent times helps set your circadian rhythm. Having a... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Nightmares and Insomnia: What Treatments Exist?All of us have bad dreams from time to time, especially in times of stress. While they may disrupt our sleep for a night, they’re not usually enough to cause... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Why Sleep Studies Aren't Used to Diagnose InsomniaWhy aren’t sleep studies used to diagnose insomnia? This question has been asked a lot recently in our community. For people who struggle with chronic insomnia, a sleep study sounds... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
How I Deal With a Bad Night of SleepI’m grateful that my insomnia responded to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI). I no longer battle sleepless weeks or months. But like every human, I still have sleepless nights now... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Is It OK to Sleep on the Couch? Maybe!In a previous post, I shared tips for undoing conditioned arousal in the bed and bedroom. I suggested ways to associate the bed with restful sleep in order to improve... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Why Can I Sleep on My Couch, But Not in My Bed?There’s a joke about insomnia that I can relate to: Insomniacs don’t really have trouble sleeping. They can sleep almost anywhere – on the couch, in a waiting room, or in... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
The 3 Ps of Insomnia: How 1 Bad Night Turns Into 100If you suffer with chronic insomnia, you may be able to pinpoint when it started. Maybe it began around the time you suddenly found yourself unemployed. Maybe it started while... By Carin Lefkowitz, PsyD3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments