It helps an amazing majority of those who try it, and is just a click away.
Insomnia disproportionately affects infants who insist on being nighthawks, women, and people over the age of 65. It’s so widespread that an NPR article says it affects up to 60 million Americans.
That’s a lot of people. And so, needless to say, finding new ways to treat this nasty habit of nature is something that’s always welcome.
A new digital program tested by researchers at Northwestern University seems to be at the forefront. It presents sleepless souls with a new form of cognitive behavioural therapy.
“Sleep ranks with air, water and food as one of the essentials of life, yet 10 to 12 percent of the population doesn’t get enough of it due to insomnia,” says lead study author Colin Espie, Oxford University professor of sleep medicine. “Our study suggests that digital medicine could be a powerful way to help millions of people not just sleep better, but achieve better mental and physical well-being as a result.”
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The program tested is called Sleepio and it’s designed by Espie as a product of Big Health. It comes with an associated iOS app, and is delivered in sessions that last about 20 minutes each.
As a tailored self-help system, Sleepio uses different forms of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) depending on your problem.
How does it work? CBT is a psycho-social intervention that aims to improve your mental health. It usually focuses on challenging bad habits you may have in your thinking and actions, and works to change them. CBT can improve your emotional regulation, and help you develop personal coping strategies to suit your situation.
As a sleeping program, Sleepio uses a variety of tools to get you to doze off, including a simple online test, as well as the therapy tailored to your specific needs.
Amazingly, it’s said to help 76% of people who try it achieve healthy sleep.
To try it, click here.
