Wednesday, I was watching the news as I was eating breakfast, and I saw this one story that was particularly interesting. Here is the link to an article and the TV clip (which is ironically named "Wake-up Call for Insomniacs"): http://www.today.com/health/insomnia-try-therapy-pills-new-guidelines-say-t90136.
It talked about something that is pretty common in the United States: chronic insomnia. According to their sources, between 6 and 10 percent of American adults have insomnia so bad that it can be classified as a clinical disorder. Many of these affected adults are quick to pop a pill to get the rest that they so desperately want but have trouble finding. But the story said that this is not the right way to go about overcoming insomnia. Instead, it said that there is a promising future in cognitive behavioral therapy to help insomniacs get to sleep and stay asleep. According to the presentation from class on these therapies, the definition should be: a therapy that both modifies behavior and trains a person's mind to think a certain way. Based on Mayoclinic's definition of cognitive behavioral therapy, I was correct in assuming that it is a combination of cognitive and behavioral therapy. It is also a therapy that is limited to a certain number of sessions and helps people realize their negative mindset and how to overcome it. If you watch the video, it does end up explaining cognitive behavioral therapy as a structured process that involves three steps: addressing and changing negative thoughts that might interrupt normal sleep, trying to change behaviors that interrupt sleep and maintaining a normal sleep pattern, and enforcing healthy sleep practices. Now, when I heard this, I remember thinking to myself that this is nothing new. Addressing the problem at its heart generally is better than dousing it with medication. But then I realized, maybe people might be reluctant to join the therapy because they are still stuck in the mindset that they don't want to admit that they have something wrong with them. The pills or medication is something that has grown normal for people having sleeping difficulties. I think it is an example of normative influence and also, possibly, learned helplessness. This is very similar to the situation with the article about suicide we were reading in class. In that case, the children are complaining about the school system being too stressful, but they don't do anything to get out of the school system or seek alternative schooling. It's all they've known and all they think can help them to succeed later in life. They don't want to take a risk even if the stress level is so large. It's a similar issue here. On the other hand, it could just be the rigor of the therapy: 6-8 weeks of structure involving no naps and basically forcing oneself into sleep-deprivation. The video promises positive results after the sleep-deprivation. But in the end, I'm skeptical that people will want to stick with the therapy rather than get the instant result they want from pills (even with the health issues associated with prolonged use). Do others agree? Do you think that this type of therapy would work? Or do you think another type would work better? Any other thoughts?
Pills. Yes, as much as medication has advanced over the years, it has become a threat out there. Here, I think that taking these medications is a way to cope with themselves. Thus, running away from their problems. Of course, not all situations are like this, but think about it: What is easier? taking a pill or going through tiring courses of therapy? Sleep-deprivation may work, however, motivation can be the downfall. Monitoring one's sleep, making sure they are on sleep patterns, etc, is a lot of stressful work. I agree with you that people might not want to suffer and believe that sleep is worth it with the pill. Eventually, one's body does shut down. I think exercise, daily activities, and mind games would help. The mind can only handle so much. Constant exercise with the brain throughout the day could possibly tire it out. Studies show that eating 2 hours before bedtime is best, along with electronics. The longer electronic are away before bedtime, the better. This allows time for the system to shut down in a healthy manner.
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