When good sleep goes bad – and what to do about it

It’s the middle of the night and you’re awake.

You toss and turn, hoping to fall asleep and wake up rested. Still, no luck. Slumber slips from your grasp and you stare at the ceiling frustrated.

The more you think about falling asleep, the harder it gets, and before you know it, it’s morning and your alarm rings. You roll out of bed, bleary-eyed and exhausted, to start your day.

At work, you struggle to focus. You’re groggy and anxious and you can tell you’re not at your best. As the day slogs on, you dread the idea of not being able to sleep tonight. You wonder if you’ll ever get a good night’s sleep again.

The science of sleep

What are you to do when you’ve tried counting sheep and drinking chamomile tea, not to mention all the over-the-counter pills and prescription medications, and nothing is working?

If you’re suffering from consistently poor sleep, you need to get to the root of these stubborn sleep problems and that’s where cognitive and behavioral techniques can help. These science-backed techniques help you by identifying negative thoughts and behaviors that get in the way of quality sleep, and replacing them with positive habits that help you sleep better.

The secret to better sleep

Sleepio is an online sleep improvement program that uses cognitive and behavioral techniques to help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep during the night, and wake feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day.

As of July 1, CU Health Plan members, spouses and dependents can participate in Sleepio at no additional cost.

Designed by a sleep expert, professor Colin Espie of Oxford University, Sleepio is an effective long-term solution to your sleep troubles.

Sleepio takes a practical approach to sleep improvement. It’s personalized to you and is backed by decades of scientific evidence. No drugs, prescriptions, or doctor visits necessary — Sleepio has been validated in 17 research studies, including 10 randomized control trials and over 13,000 participants.

Your next step to sleeping better tonight

Get started by discovering your Sleep Score: www.sleepio.com/cuhealthplan. You’ll get a personalized sleep report, plus a technique you can try as soon as tonight to help you sleep better.

After taking the test, you can continue with Sleepio’s science-backed program, to finally get to the root of your stubborn poor sleep and say goodbye to those restless nights.