When the Fear of Not Sleeping Keeps You Awake

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Trouble sleeping can quickly become more than just a nighttime problem. When insomnia continues, people often begin to dread bedtime, worry about how much sleep they will get, and feel pressure to “figure out” sleep before the next day begins.

Insomnia may include:

Difficulty falling asleep

• Waking up during the night

• Waking too early and not being able to fall back asleep

• Feeling tired but unable to sleep

• Lying in bed with racing thoughts

• Worrying about how sleep will affect work, school, parenting, mood, or health

• Avoiding plans or activities because of poor sleep

• The harder people try to force sleep, the more frustrating sleep can become. Over time, the bed can start to feel like a place of stress, worry, and effort instead of rest.

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Evidence-based treatment for insomnia

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, or CBT-I, is an evidence-based treatment that helps people change the patterns that keep insomnia going. CBT-I is not just sleep hygiene. It is a structured, research-supported approach that helps retrain the brain and body to sleep more naturally.

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CBT-I may help with:

• Reducing time spent awake in bed​

• Decreasing anxiety and frustration about sleep

• Building a more consistent sleep rhythm

• Changing unhelpful sleep-related thoughts

• Reducing habits that unintentionally keep insomnia going

• Improving confidence around sleep

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You do not have to keep struggling with sleep

Insomnia can feel exhausting and discouraging, but it is treatable. With CBT-I, many people learn how to reduce the cycle of sleeplessness, worry, and frustration, and begin to feel more confident about sleep again.

NCE Wellness offers therapy for insomnia using evidence-based approaches, including CBT-I.

Gretchen Klefstad has openings for clients seeking help with insomnia.