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Screens & routes to CBT-I

Insomnia Pathway

If your problem is trouble falling or staying asleep — not primarily a breathing problem — the evidence-based treatment is CBT-I, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. We will never insult you by selling “sleep hygiene” as a cure. The leading guideline recommends CBT-I first-line and suggests against sleep-hygiene education as a stand-alone treatment.

⚕️ Insomnia and apnea can coexist

If you also snore heavily, wake gasping, or have witnessed pauses, pursue a breathing evaluation too — treating one problem will not fix the other. This page addresses the insomnia side.

Does this sound like chronic insomnia?
Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early
It happens at least three nights a week
It has gone on for three months or more
It happens even when you give yourself enough time in bed
It affects your daytime energy, mood, or function

If most of these are ticked, that pattern fits chronic insomnia — and CBT-I is the treatment with the strongest evidence.

What CBT-I actually is

CBT-I is a short, structured program — not a pill and not a lecture about screens. It uses techniques like stimulus control and sleep restriction to retrain your sleep, plus work on the thoughts that keep you awake. It is delivered by trained providers and through well-validated digital programs.

Ask your clinician
Can you refer me to CBT-I, or recommend a validated CBT-I program?
Could a breathing problem be coexisting with my insomnia?
Are any of my medications affecting my sleep?

This tool is an educational companion and is not medical care. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and never changes a prescribed treatment. © 2026 Ken Hoyer / Body Plus Fitness.