You\u2019ve probably heard most of the tips on sleep hygiene by now. No more screens after 10 p.m., keep the bedroom cooler, stick to a regular schedule, and no coffee after 3 p.m. You\u2019ve probably tried them, too, right? Some weeks it seems to help, but other weeks you\u2019re awake again at 3 a.m., staring at the ceiling and counting down the hours until morning. <\/p>\n\n
Eventually, you go to see your family doctor. He or she listens, nods, and might prescribe a sleeping pill. Or sends you on your way with the advice to try again by sticking to a regular routine. <\/p>\n\n
What usually doesn\u2019t come up in that conversation about insomnia is the name of the treatment that, according to Dutch and European guidelines, is the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia. That treatment exists, it has been well-researched, and, unfortunately, most people who need it will never hear about it. We\u2019re going to talk about cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, or CBT-i for short. <\/p>\n\n