Insomnia Capitola

Insomnia

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting restful sleep despite having the opportunity to sleep. It can lead to daytime fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, and a reduced quality of life. Depending on its duration, insomnia can be classified as acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).

What Causes Insomnia?

Insomnia can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Stress: Ongoing worries about work, school, health, or family can keep your mind active at night, making it difficult to sleep.
• Irregular Sleep Schedule: Shift work or frequent changes in your sleep pattern can disrupt your body's natural circadian rhythm.
• Poor Sleep Habits: An unhealthy lifestyle and poor sleep environment can contribute to insomnia. This includes using electronics before bed, irregular bedtime schedules, and consuming caffeine or alcohol close to bedtime.
• Mental Health Disorders: Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can interfere with sleep.
• Medical Conditions: Chronic pain, asthma, acid reflux, and other conditions can cause discomfort that makes it hard to sleep.
• Medications: Certain medications, especially those that affect the nervous system, can interfere with sleep.

How is Insomnia Diagnosed?

We will begin our assessment by asking some probing questions about your sleep patterns, the onset of your insomnia, what makes it worse or better, and how it affects your daily activities. Understanding your sleep habits and triggers is crucial to identifying the root cause of your insomnia.

Next, we may recommend a sleep study or other diagnostic tests to understand your sleep issues better. This can include assessments of your sleep environment, lifestyle habits, and any underlying medical conditions affecting your sleep. We also use standardized questionnaires to evaluate the severity of your insomnia and identify specific factors that disrupt your sleep. These tools help us develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Our primary method of assessment involves a detailed and empathetic conversation combined with comprehensive evaluations to uncover all aspects of your insomnia. If sleepless nights prevent you from living a full and energized life, call us at (831) 200-0880 for a consultation. Our dedicated team is here to help you achieve restful sleep and improve your overall well-being.