"Have you tried turning off your phone?"
If you suffer from insomnia, you've probably heard this advice a thousand times. While well-meaning, it conflates sleep hygiene with medical treatment. Understanding the difference is key to finding the right solution.
What is Sleep Hygiene?
Sleep hygiene refers to the habits and environment that promote good sleep. This includes:
- Keeping a consistent bedtime.
- Avoiding caffeine after 2pm.
- Reducing blue light exposure (screens) at night.
- Keeping your bedroom cool and dark.
Who it helps: People with mild sleep disturbances or "bad habits" that are disrupting their rest.
What is Medical Treatment?
Medical treatment is necessary when good habits aren't enough. If you have perfect sleep hygiene—you meditate, your room is dark, you don't drink coffee—and you still can't sleep, you likely have a medical condition.
Treatments can include:
- CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia): The gold standard for behavioral treatment.
- Prescription Medication: For short-term relief.
- Plant-Based Therapies: For patients seeking alternatives to standard pills.
The Fade Medical Approach
We believe in a tiered approach. We always encourage good sleep hygiene first. But we also recognize that for chronic insomnia sufferers, warm milk and a dark room aren't a cure.
If you've done everything "right" and still can't sleep, it's not your fault. It's a medical issue that deserves medical attention.
Contact us today to speak with a doctor who understands the difference.