End the Insomnia Struggle: A Step-By-Step Guide to Help You Get to Sleep and Stay Asleep by Colleen Ehrnstrom & Alisha L. Brosse Summary

1. Train your brain to link bed with sleep by leaving when awake.
2. Fix your wake-up time first to reset your body’s sleep clock.
3. Replace “sleep effort” with mindful acceptance of wakefulness.
4. Use a sleep log to track patterns and personalize CBT-I strategies.
5. Schedule “designated worry time” to decouple racing thoughts from bedtime.
6. Avoid naps to amplify sleep drive for nighttime rest.
7. Break the frustration cycle by reframing unhelpful sleep beliefs.
8. Combine ACT and CBT-I for tailored, medication-free insomnia relief.
9. Build sleep consistency over 6 weeks to lock in lasting results.
10. Address stress through relaxation training and cognitive detachment.

About the Author of End the Insomnia Struggle

Colleen Ehrnstrom, PhD, ABPP, and Alisha L. Brosse, PhD, are clinical psychologists and insomnia specialists who co-authored End the Insomnia Struggle: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help You Get to Sleep and Stay Asleep.

Their work blends cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Ehrnstrom is board-certified in CBT and a VA family program psychologist. Brosse is the director of a bipolar clinic and founder of a private practice. Both draw on decades of clinical experience to address sleep disorders.

Ehrnstrom and Brosse integrate sleep physiology with actionable strategies, reflecting their roles as innovators in behavioral sleep medicine. They have presented CBT-I frameworks at national conferences, including the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). Ehrnstrom’s embedded counseling model at CU Boulder bridges mental health and academic success.

Recognized in ABCT’s Self-Help Book Recommendations, End the Insomnia Struggle offers a science-backed, customizable program trusted by clinicians and readers seeking lasting relief from chronic sleeplessness.

FAQs About End the Insomnia Struggle

What is End the Insomnia Struggle by Colleen Ehrnstrom about?

End the Insomnia Struggle provides a customizable, medication-free program blending Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). It guides readers to address sleep challenges through behavioral adjustments, cognitive reframing, and tracking tools like sleep logs, tailored to individual physiology and lifestyle.

Who should read End the Insomnia Struggle?

This book is ideal for chronic insomnia sufferers seeking science-backed, non-pharmaceutical solutions. It’s particularly useful for those open to structured self-guided strategies, such as sleep restriction and mindfulness, and individuals needing flexibility to adapt methods to their unique circumstances.

Is End the Insomnia Struggle worth reading?

Yes—it’s a practical, evidence-based resource praised for combining CBT-I’s proven techniques with ACT’s psychological flexibility principles. The step-by-step approach, printable worksheets, and troubleshooting tips make it actionable for long-term sleep improvement.

How does End the Insomnia Struggle combine CBT and ACT?

The book integrates CBT-I’s focus on sleep-drive optimization and habit restructuring with ACT’s emphasis on reducing sleep-related anxiety through mindfulness and value-driven behavior. This dual approach targets both physiological patterns and psychological barriers to rest.

What role do sleep logs play in the book’s method?

Sleep logs are critical for tracking bedtime, wake time, and sleep quality to identify patterns. This data informs personalized adjustments, such as modifying time in bed or addressing environmental triggers, ensuring strategies align with the reader’s specific needs.

Can End the Insomnia Struggle help with chronic insomnia?

Yes—its CBT-I/ACT framework is clinically validated for chronic cases. The book provides tools to break cycles of hyperarousal and rumination, with modules on sleep restriction, stimulus control, and cognitive defusion to address persistent sleeplessness.

What strategies does the book recommend for overcoming insomnia?

Key strategies include:

• Sleep restriction to consolidate sleep drive.
• Stimulus control to reassociate the bed with sleep.
• Cognitive restructuring to challenge unhelpful beliefs about sleep.
• Mindfulness exercises to reduce nighttime anxiety.

How does the book address setbacks in sleep progress?

It encourages using “effectiveness as a compass”—prioritizing strategies that yield results over rigid adherence to rules. Readers troubleshoot stalls by revisiting sleep logs, adjusting strategies, and integrating new techniques without abandoning progress.

Does End the Insomnia Struggle require medical consultation?

Yes—it advises consulting a healthcare provider first if conditions like sleep apnea or bipolar disorder coexist with insomnia. Medical supervision ensures safety when combining self-guided methods with existing treatments.

How does this book differ from other insomnia guides?

Unlike one-size-fits-all guides, it emphasizes personalization through modular strategies. The ACT component also distinguishes it by addressing emotional resistance to sleep efforts, a gap in traditional CBT-I programs.

Are practical tools included in End the Insomnia Struggle?

Yes—downloadable worksheets, audio exercises, and a bonus clinician chapter supplement the text. These resources help implement sleep restriction schedules, cognitive exercises, and mindfulness practices effectively.

What does “effectiveness as a compass” mean in the book?

This principle urges readers to judge strategies by their real-world results rather than theoretical ideals. For example, if waking earlier improves daytime alertness, it’s prioritized over achieving arbitrary sleep duration goals.