What are the treatment options for sleep disorders?
Nov 17, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Baohua
Introduction
Treatment options for sleep disorders include cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, sleep hygiene education, physical therapy, and psychological support. Individualized treatment plans should be developed based on the patient's underlying causes and severity of symptoms. If long-term insomnia, frequent dreaming, or poor sleep quality affects physical and mental health, prompt medical consultation is recommended. Help patients correct irrational beliefs and unhealthy behavioral habits that negatively impact sleep.
Sleep disorders can be treated through various approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, sleep hygiene education, physical therapy, and psychological support. Treatment should be tailored according to the underlying causes and symptoms of the individual. If chronic insomnia, frequent dreaming, or poor sleep quality affects physical and mental health, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly.
1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps patients correct irrational beliefs and unhealthy behaviors that affect sleep, teaches relaxation techniques and sleep training, reduces excessive anxiety about sleep, and improves sleep patterns at the root cause level.
2. Medication: For moderate to severe cases, sedatives, hypnotics, or anti-anxiety medications may be used under medical supervision to temporarily relieve insomnia symptoms. Dosage and treatment duration must be strictly controlled to avoid dependence or adverse effects.
3. Sleep Hygiene Education: Guides patients in establishing regular sleep schedules, optimizing the sleep environment, avoiding electronic devices before bedtime, and limiting intake of stimulants, fostering daily habits conducive to healthy sleep.
4. Physical Therapy: Includes treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and biofeedback therapy. These gentle physical interventions help regulate brain neural function and improve sleep rhythms, suitable for patients who are intolerant to or prefer to avoid medications.
5. Psychological Support Therapy: Addresses sleep disturbances caused by emotional factors. Through active listening and empathy, this approach helps reduce stress, anxiety, or depression, allowing patients to release psychological burdens and restore normal sleep.
Maintain a quiet, dark, and cool bedroom environment; stick to a consistent sleep schedule without staying up late or oversleeping; avoid electronic devices one hour before bed; consider warm foot baths or gentle stretching instead. Eat light meals and avoid going to bed overly full or hungry.
