Insomnia Light Therapy

Phototherapy also called light therapy is an effective therapy for people whose insomnia is due to a problem called delayed sleep phase syndrome.

Insomnia light therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is a structured program that helps you identify and replace thoughts and behaviors that cause or worsen sleep problems with habits that promote sound sleep. A great thing about light therapy is that it can be an effective treatment that doesn t require a prescription an appointment or if you use the sun a co pay. Light therapy is thought to affect brain chemicals linked to mood and sleep easing sad symptoms. Unlike sleeping pills cbt i helps you overcome the underlying causes of your sleep problems.

If you are working with your primary care doctor or a sleep specialist for insomnia you can ask if this is an appropriate treatment for you. With an earlier timed circadian rhythm they may be able to fall asleep and wake earlier following a regime of morning light therapy. However light therapy shows major signs of improvement in people and for people who struggle with moderate to mild insomnia light therapy can most certainly be the cure. If you are struggling to sleep well at night especially with insomnia or a circadian rhythm disorder try regularly exposing yourself to morning sunlight.

Onset insomnia who are having difficulty falling asleep until quite late e g. So if you have primary insomnia light therapy can be a simple enough process if you follow these steps. Light therapy might be indicated if you have tried other forms of treatment or if your doctor thinks your particular insomnia symptoms call for this mode of therapy. Make sure your room is dark while you sleep.

Bright light administered in the evening has been shown to delay the cir cadian rhythm. Using a light therapy box may also help with other types of depression sleep disorders and other conditions. The internal clock in people with insomnia is often off which causes them to struggle when it comes to sleep. Insomnia can be treated in a growing number of ways pharmacologic and non pharmacologic including light therapy.

Insomnia as we ve learned is not an illness unto itself but a set of symptoms usually secondary to other maladies including poor sleep hygiene medical conditions medications and social and psychological problems like depression and anxiety disorders. Light therapy might be indicated if you have tried other forms of treatment or if your doctor thinks your particular insomnia symptoms call for this mode of therapy. The light from this box mimics outdoor light which is important for regulating your body. People with this disorder have a problem with their body s sleep clock such that they have a difficult time falling asleep until much later in the evening or night than they wish and therefore wake up later than they wish in the next morning.