Why is CBT preferable to medication for sleep problems?
CBT addresses the causes of sleep problems whereas medication addresses the symptoms. When the medication runs out, the sleep problems often return. Sleep problems typically emerge in times of stress. They persist beyond the stressful period because of the thoughts and behaviors that developed in reaction to the initial period of bad sleep. For example, when sleep is poor, we tend to worry each night about whether we will sleep. That worrying becomes part of the problem, creating anxiety at bedtime. CBT is used to identify and treat the web of thoughts and behaviors that are perpetuating the sleep problem.
