Sleep Disorders

When difficulty sleeping turns into a frequent problem or you’re so exhausted you can barely drag yourself through the day, chances are you have a sleep disorder. The highly trained team at Westwood Psychiatry Associates in Westwood, New Jersey, has helped many people overcome a sleep disorder and get the restorative sleep needed to stay healthy. If you have trouble sleeping, call the office or request an in-person or telepsychiatry appointment online today.

What are sleep disorders?

Sleep disorders occur when you don’t get the amount of sleep you need each night. For adults, that means seven to nine hours of sleep every night.

There are several sleep disorders, but the two most common are:

Insomnia

You have insomnia if you have a hard time falling asleep, can’t sleep throughout the night, and/or wake early and can’t return to sleep. Insomnia often develops when you live with stress or your sleep-wake cycles get disrupted due to jet lag or working a night shift.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea occurs when you briefly stop breathing while sleeping. When you sleep, your tongue and soft tissues naturally relax, allowing them to fall toward your throat and cover the airway.

Though you don’t wake up when your breathing stops, your brain rouses you just enough to start breathing again. As a result, your sleep is disrupted every time breathing stops, and that can happen 5-30 times or more every hour.

What are the symptoms of a sleep disorder?

Loud snoring is the most common symptom of sleep apnea, but all sleep disorders may cause:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Morning headaches
• Irritability and hyperactivity
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory loss
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Anxiety

Daytime sleepiness can be so severe that you fall asleep while sitting at your desk or driving.

How are sleep disorders treated?

Your treatment depends on the sleep disorder:

Sleep apnea

Treatment for sleep apnea involves devices that keep your airway open. You may choose an oral appliance or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Oral appliances go in your mouth, where they prevent your tongue from moving over the airway. If you choose CPAP, you wear a mask that uses a continuous stream of air to hold the airway open.

Insomnia

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold standard of treatment for insomnia. CBT-I helps you identify and control or eliminate the things that keep you awake, like negative thoughts, stress, and anxiety.

CBT-I also teaches you about lifestyle and environmental changes you can make to improve your sleep. For example, it helps to turn off all lights and electronics, follow a calming routine, keep the room temperature cool, and avoid alcohol or food close to bedtime.

Sleep is essential for your mental and physical health, so don’t wait to get help for a sleep disorder. Call Westwood Psychiatry Associates or book an appointment online today.