Sleep Disorders Specialists

How do sleep disorders affect your psychological health?

Sleep disorders go hand in hand with mental health. Those with mental health disorders often find it difficult to sleep. Psychological disorders are usually detected first when there is difficulty with sleeping. Conversely, scientists have recently discovered that having a sleep disorder increases your risk of developing a new mental health problem.

One example of this is depression. One estimate suggests that 65-90% of adults and 90% of children with depression have a hard time sleeping. And on the other hand, people with insomnia are 4 times more likely to become depressed than those with normal sleep patterns. It’s noted that sleep problems often develop in teens before signs of depression emerge.

What sleep disorders improve with therapy at RobinsPsych?

There are as many as 70+ different types of sleep disorders. Yet, some of the most common conditions that benefit from therapy include:

• Insomnia: The most common cause of insomnia is stress. Those with insomnia find it difficult falling or staying asleep or they may wake up in the early hours of the morning and find it difficult to return to sleep.
• Obstructive sleep apnea: While sleeping, soft tissues in the throat become relaxed and block the airway. This can disrupt breathing and you will wake up in order to restore your breathing rhythm.
• Circadian rhythm sleep disorders: The circadian rhythm is also known as your internal clock that regulates sleep and wakefulness. Sleep can be disrupted when the rhythm is out of order. 

What types of psychological therapy treat sleep disorders?

The medical staff at RobinsPsych successfully treat insomnia with behavior therapy. It is a better option than using medication because it eliminates the possible side effects. They also evaluate mental health to determine if there’s an underlying psychological disorder that is contributing toward the sleep disorder. There are a number of different therapeutic techniques that can be used to treat sleep disorders and improve sleep quality:

• Cognitive therapy: This type of therapy works by identifying and replacing any feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that contribute to sleep problems.
• Relaxation training: Sleep is improved by learning deep breathing techniques, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and learning to use imagery to improve sleep. 
• Stimulus control: This is used to identify and remove factors that affect sleep, such as leaving the bedroom if you can’t get to sleep rather than getting frustrated lying in bed.
• Sleep hygiene counseling: This is all about changing lifestyle habits that can influence sleep. Changing habits leading up to your bedtime and establishing a routine can help you sleep better.

Schedule time with one of our specialists at either of our offices in Columbus Circle, Manhattan, NY or in the Hub, Bronx, NY.