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.
It’s a part of our lives where we have little control: we can’t make ourselves sleep or dictate our dreams.
For those who have trouble with either the quantity or the quality of their sleep, nighttime can be stressful. Lying in bed, exhausted but unable to sleep, worrying that you’re going to feel shattered the next day, is really distressing.
The importance of sleep
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.
There is also a converse relationship. Worry, anxiety, fear, depression and relationship issues can contribute to sleep problems. This can create a self-perpetuating cycle of sleeplessness and distress.
Sleep also plays an important role in our health. Our immune systems weaken in response to inadequate sleep, making us more susceptible to infections. Effects of sleeplessness on our nervous systems include anxiety, irritability and an increased propensity for stress.
When we are trying to fit a lot into our lives, sleep is often one of the first things to go. 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 wellbeing.
Counselling can help with sleep problems
Worry, anxiety, fear, guilt, depression and relationship issues can all contribute to ongoing sleep problems. So it is unsurprising that many clients coming to therapy because of problems in their waking lives also suffer from sleep issues.
An experienced psychotherapist can help determine underlying causes of sleep problems and help restore healthy sleep patterns. This may involve improving sleep hygiene, such as bedtime routines, as well as addressing the issues that are causing stress in the client’s life.
Help starts with a first appointment
At your first appointment, your therapist will spend time understanding the specific problems you are having with sleep. Following this first appointment, you can choose to continue with ongoing appointments to address your sleep issues.
To book a first appointment with one of our experienced, empathic therapists, click here or contact us.
Sometimes just taking that first step can help you to feel more in control
Meet our therapists working with problems sleeping
