The Vicious Cycle Between Insomnia and Mental Health

Insomnia isn’t one thing. It can mean trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early and not getting back to sleep. In this video, Dr. Eli explains how to identify your specific sleep pattern, why anxiety/depression can make nights worse (and vice versa), and what actually works—from CBT-I and sleep hygiene to when medications may be appropriate (and when they’re not). You’ll learn: Primary vs. secondary insomnia (and why that matters) How different sleep problems map to anxiety, depression, and PTSD The pillars of sleep hygiene (light, bed-only rule, environment, consistency) What CBT-I looks like and why it works ~90% of the time Where melatonin, antihistamines, prazosin/clonidine, and Z-drugs fit—plus safety & time-limits Why optimizing sleep often improves therapy outcomes across the board