Case 4: AliceSleep Disorder – Insomnia

Case 4: AliceSleep Disorder – Insomnia Alice is an executive at a local business and has struggled since her early adulthood with falling asleep most nights. She says that she feels “mentally hyperactive” at bedtime, and is unable to stop the thoughts of the day, especially those issues that were unresolved. She also feels that when she does not get all of her work done for the day that she does not “deserve to go to bed.” Any evening excitement such as a TV show, movie, or a party leaves her unable to quiet herself for hours, which leaves her tossing and turning in bed. Sometimes she finds herself waking up in the middle of the night, and her thoughts are again racing about the day’s activities and problems. The lack of sleep leaves her feeling on edge at work the next day with her coworkers and with her fiancé. She has tried sleepaids, but they make her feel groggy the next day, and she does not want to become dependent on them. Consider different types of therapies suggested in chapter 11. Select a therapy that you feel could best address the problems that Alice is facing. Describe how this particular therapeutic technique would help Alice overcome her problems. Would you recommend psychotherapy or biomedical therapy as an option for treatment for Alice? Provide an explanation supporting your answer.