Q&A for How to Sleep When You Are Not Tired

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How do I know if I have insomnia?

Jeremy Bartz, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Jeremy Bartz is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice based in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Bartz specializes in treating depression, anxiety, OCD, mind-body syndromes, chronic pain, insomnia, relationship difficulties, attachment trauma, and resolving the effects of narcissistic trauma. He received a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Brigham Young University and completed a fellowship In Pain Psychology at Stanford's premier pain management clinic.

Jeremy Bartz, PhD

Clinical Psychologist

Expert Answer

By definition, insomnia has to last for multiple days. Everybody has occasional bad nights. That's not considered insomnia. But if you've been getting only a few hours of sleep for something like a week or more, then something's wrong. That’s not normal and is more of a clinical issue. You really want to intervene as early as possible, because with insomnia in particular, it's habitual.

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Question

What should I do if I can't sleep?

Jeremy Bartz, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Jeremy Bartz is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice based in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Bartz specializes in treating depression, anxiety, OCD, mind-body syndromes, chronic pain, insomnia, relationship difficulties, attachment trauma, and resolving the effects of narcissistic trauma. He received a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Brigham Young University and completed a fellowship In Pain Psychology at Stanford's premier pain management clinic.

Jeremy Bartz, PhD

Clinical Psychologist

Expert Answer

If you can't sleep, get up and get out of bed and go read a book or watch some TV. You don't want to force yourself to lay there, tossing and turning, since that can actually create an association of sleeplessness with your bed, which can cause insomnia.

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Question

I get hot really easily and my room only has a mid-size fan. I can't fall asleep even when I turn the fan on high. What should I do?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

The only way to decrease the temperature of your bedroom is to set your air-conditioner to a cooler temperature. You can also try to take a cold shower before going to sleep to bring your core body temperature down.

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Question

How can I sleep if I'm already under the effects of caffeine?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

Only time can decrease and eliminate the effects of caffeine.

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