| Millions of us suffer from chronic insomnia, yet so few | | | | provide a much more person-centred solution. An |
| therapists are trained to provide help and advice. Now | | | | online consultation, before purchase enables the client |
| the medical journal, the Archives of General Psychiatry | | | | to self-direct towards the most appropriate talking |
| suggests that on-line therapy may have as much | | | | cure. This is achieved by asking a series questions, |
| effect as face-to-face cognitive behavioural therapy. | | | | needing no more than a simple yes or no answer. |
| So could these online treatments provide the potential | | | | Each question becomes more specific, directing the |
| to ease the pressure? "In many ways, they have | | | | client to the most effective talking cure. |
| advantages over face-to-face care, certainly in the | | | | Do online insomnia cures actually work? |
| ability to reach larger audiences and reduce travel | | | | University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, published |
| time," says Lee Ritterband, a psychologist at the | | | | the results of a study earlier this year in the medical |
| University of Virginia Health System, who's findings | | | | journal Sleep in which they found that some 80% of |
| were published in July's issue of the Archive. | | | | participants noticed an improvement in their insomnia. |
| "We're talking about the most common mental health | | | | So the evidence suggests that these 'smart' |
| problem, probably the world," says Colin Espie, director | | | | downloads are highly effective. At health sites like |
| of the University of Glasgow Sleep Centre. "But less | | | | talkingcures.org and healthnosis.co.uk the consultation |
| than half of people with insomnia mention it to their | | | | process is free and provides a good opportunity to try |
| doctors." | | | | the process before you buy. And these second |
| But there are so many insomnia cures online, which do | | | | generation cures are not just used for insomnia; |
| you choose? | | | | anxiety, depression, stress, worry and weight-loss can |
| "Avoid the general, non-specific cures. Be wary of | | | | all be treated with equally impressive results. |
| anything that is an off-the-shelf cure. Obviously it will | | | | Dr Gregg Jacobs, an insomnia specialist at the |
| not be as effective as one that is specifically for you." | | | | University of Massachusetts Medical School, and |
| is the professional advice. This makes sense because | | | | founder of an online therapy programme concludes |
| every individual is unique, so it is reasonable to assume | | | | that "It's a very safe, very anonymous way of treating |
| that the talking cure that will have most effect will also | | | | their insomnia." |
| have to be unique. Or at least as unique as is possible | | | | If you are one of the many millions who are troubled |
| on-line. Understanding that each individual has unique | | | | with little, unsatisfying or interrupted sleep then perhaps |
| problems, for their own reasons, which will require a | | | | you owe it to yourself to try out one of these new |
| specific solution has led to the development of a new | | | | 'second generation' online therapies. Unlike most |
| type of 'interactive' talking cure. | | | | therapists they are available exactly when you need |
| These second generation 'smart' cures are very | | | | them and you will not be charged for the consultation. |
| different to the plethora of general hypnosis | | | | So the only thing you might lose is another restless |
| downloads that are available. These talking cures | | | | night. |