If you are struggling with insomnia, you are not alone.

In the past, sleep issues were not the focus of mental or physical health treatments. But today, sleep treatments are improving, and can be extremely effective without the side effects commonly associated with heavy sleep medications. Repairing sleep problems can be a major boost to near-term and long-term health, and has become a primary focus of clinicians and researchers.

Solutions:

The good news is, treatments and interventions for this central health issue are improving quickly.

We recommend the following organizations for reputable and science-based recommendations and information:

American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM):

National Provider Map: Sleepeducation.org,

The Stanford Sleep Health and Insomnia Program provides direct care for people with sleep issues.

National Sleep Foundation: An independent nonprofit focused on restoring sleep and improving overall health

Sleep resources from the Centers for Disease Control

The National Center for PTSD has an excellent self-directed insomnia app: (Apple iOS)

Recommendations for civilians

• Make sure to bring up sleep issues in a primary care or mental health appointment. 

• Ask specifically about sleep clinics or specialty sleep experts in your health care network.

• Bring up Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) as a potential option.

• Try and be open to new pharmacological options that may be a fit for you 

Recommendations for Veterans

• Discuss insomnia with either a VA or independent primary care providers and mental health practitioners

• Discuss referrals to specialists with expertise in insomnia 

• Ask if your provider has knowledge of veteran-specific insomnia treatment options and / or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)

If you do not have access to insomnia treatments under the supervision of a professional:

• The National Center for PTSD has a mobile app for self-starters:

• https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/cbticoach_app_public.asp

• Try and connect with veteran support organizations in your area (e.g. Vet Centers) who may have pathways to insomnia resources for veterans

The implications of insomnia extend far beyond the daily challenges of poor nights of sleep. When untreated, sleep disturbance can substantially reduce quality of life. In the long term, insomnia is associated with diabetes, cardiovascular problems, immune system functioning problems, and neurodegenerative diseases.

For the research and military care communities, these are all priorities. By focusing on insomnia, Heart and Armor is improving detection, prevention and treatment of insomnia to improve quality of life in a significant proportion of the veteran community. We also aim to prevent some long term consequences in overall health by accelerating new treatments for sleep disturbances, particularly in those who suffer with post traumatic stress.

The benefits of addressing veterans' sleep issues extend beyond the military community - the tools and treatments developed for veterans can help civilians address their sleep problems as well.