Are you tired of tossing and turning at night? Do you find yourself dreading bedtime, worrying that you won’t get enough rest? If so, you’re not alone. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder affecting millions of people, leaving many feeling exhausted, irritable, and unable to function at their best during the day.
While sleeping pills might seem like a quick fix, there’s a proven, long-lasting solution that doesn’t rely on medication: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, or CBT-I.
Why and How You Develop Insomnia?
Insomnia doesn’t just happen overnight. It often develops due to a combination of factors that disrupt your natural sleep patterns. Stress is one of the most common triggers—worries about work, relationships, or health can make it hard to unwind at night. Sometimes, physical illnesses or pain keep you awake, or changes in your hormones such as during pregnancy and menopause can disturb your sleep.
As sleepless nights add up, many people become anxious about not sleeping, which can make the problem worse. You might start going to bed earlier, spending more time in bed, or napping during the day in hopes of catching up on sleep—but these habits can actually disrupt your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. Over time, your mind may begin to associate bedtime with frustration and wakefulness rather than rest and relaxation.
Insomnia can also become a learned pattern, where negative thoughts and behaviors around sleep reinforce each other. That’s why breaking the cycle of insomnia often requires more than just willpower or a change in routine—it needs a comprehensive, tailored approach like CBT-I.
What Is CBT-I?
CBT-I is a specialized form of talk therapy designed to help people overcome chronic sleep problems. It is recognized by sleep experts around the world as the gold standard treatment for insomnia. Most importantly, through talking and daily tracking and practices, CBT-I therapists helps you identify your unique problems and circumstances that perpetuate your insomnia, and subsequently design an individualized action plan that can retrain your mind and body for healthy, restorative sleep.
Who Can Benefit from CBT-I?
CBT-I is suitable for adults of all ages, including those who have struggled with sleep for months or even years. It can be helpful for people with busy schedules, stressful lives, or medical conditions that make sleep difficult. Even if you’ve tried other treatments for insomnia without success, CBT-I offers new hope.
What to Expect
CBT-I is typically delivered by a trained therapist, in person or online, over several weeks. Sessions are tailored to your unique sleep challenges and goals. Many people start to see improvements within a few sessions and enjoy continued progress after therapy concludes.
Take the First Step Toward Better Sleep
Dr. Trista Chan is a clinical psychologist and an expert in CBT-I. She has delivered CBT-I to hundreds of patients who struggle with insomnia for years and also those who struggle with other medical and mental health conditions at the same time. She also leads CBT-I research at the University of Hong Kong.
If you experience difficulties with your sleep, you may make an appointment with Dr. Chan for a thorough assessment and consultation. Please contact +852 2824 0822 or enquiries@centralhealth.com.hk
