Help for Sleep Problems

The Royal College of Psychiatrists suggest that the amount of sleep we need depends on our age. Adults generally need 8 hours of sleep nightly.

Older people often have one period of deep sleep during the night, usually in the first 4 hours. We also dream less as we get older.

There is much that is unknown about sleep. When we are awake we all inhabit a common world, but when we sleep we are in a world of our own;  a world of dreams, images and varying states of unconsciousness.

Sleep is more important than you might think

Through developments in neuroscience, we are beginning to understand what happens in the brain while we sleep. We now know there is an intimate relationship between sleep and psychological functioning. Sleep benefits our mood, memory and concentration.

Not only does sleep affect mood, but mood and mental states can also affect sleep. Worry, anxiety, fear, depression and relationship issues can contribute to existing sleep problems, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of sleeplessness and distress.

Sleep is fundamental to our quality of life, but for many people healthy sleep is not always easy to achieve. Sleep problems are often the result of emotional and psychological concerns. Sometimes the underlying cause of sleep-related problems is obvious, while at other times the cause of these problems is less understood

Sleep also plays an important role in our immune and nervous systems. Our immune systems weaken in response to inadequate sleep, making us more susceptible to infections like colds or skin problems. Symptoms of sleeplessness reflected in our nervous system include feeling anxious or irritable and an increased propensity for stress.

Counselling can be helpful for those with sleep problems

The Royal College of Psychiatrists emphasises the importance of both the quantity and quality of sleep we receive.

People often view sleep as a luxury and sleep is one of the first things to go when we feel pressed for time. It’s easy to overlook the potential long-term health consequences of insufficient sleep, and the impact that inadequate sleep can have on one’s time and productivity.

Good sleep is about quantity and quality. We need a certain amount of undisturbed, deep sleep to perform at our best. Poor quality sleep can leave us feeling as weary and tired as if we hadn’t slept at all.

Sleep problems are often the result of emotional and psychological concerns. Worry, anxiety, fear, guilt, depression and relationship issues can all contribute to ongoing sleep problems. Sleep issues often arise in counselling and psychotherapy. An experienced psychotherapist can help determine underlying causes of sleep-related problems and help restore healthy sleep patterns.

Getting started

Time will be spent at your first appointment discussing with your therapist the specific problems you have when sleeping. Everyone’s sleep problems are different and your therapist will help determine the underlying causes of your sleep issues. This initial consultation will last about an hour.

Following this first appointment, you will have an opportunity to continue with ongoing sleep therapy appointments to address and alleviate your sleep issues.

There are many reasons people in London have problems sleeping. In therapy, we would seek to understand the under-lying causes of sleep problems and resolve these. Please contact us to make an initial appointment if we can help.

Sometimes sleep problems are self-perpetuating. Anxiety about sleeplessness can make restful, quality sleep even more difficult.