CBT-I Intake
Here is a dispatch from Facebook, about my first CBT-I appointment in July 2024. This was an hour-long intake appointment, giving the doctor an overview of my history.
Mental health update. CW: mental health, medication, doctors, psychiatry, ideations
I started prazosin in April for my nightmares. Prior to April, I had nightmares roughly twice a week on average. That continued into May but went down in June! In April and May I had 9 nightmares each month, and only 4 in June.
In May, I also increased my dosage of sertraline (brand name: Zoloft) that I've been taking since 2012 for my bipolar. I've definitely seen a decrease in ideations. Like the occurrence is the same (daily), but the volume is less.
Anyway, 4 nightmares (and 3 bad dreams) isn't zero, and I still have the over arching issue of being scared to go to sleep. So my psychiatrist referred me to a CBT-I doctor (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Insomnia). I met with him today.
He said about 50% of people go into remission (his word) with this kind of therapy, so I'm a little wary, but I gotta try. He asked if I'd ever been diagnosed with Circadian Rhythm Disorder. No, but it wouldn't surprise me.
I do appreciate that he's about going at a gradual pace, not cold turkey or making huge changes all at once.
At the start of today's intake visit, he said people typically need 6-8 visits. At the end of our visit, he said he'd schedule me for 8 visits and we can add more if needed.
Lol
I am in remission now, but it took about 16 visits, ha ha.
