This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Sleeping Disorders
Sleep allows us to recharge from our stressful and ever complicated lives. It leaves us refreshed and ready to face another day and another challenge. But I think it’s fair to say that we all from time to time have uncomfortable nights experiencing bad dreams, insomnia, or restlessness. However if this becomes regular and chronic you may need to seek help.
Sleeping disorders can affect so much in our lives, such as our work, relationships, mental health and so on. There are a variety of sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy, nightmares, restless leg syndrome to name but a few. The characteristics of sleep disorders can range from being hard getting to sleep, broken sleep, falling asleep at inopportune times, unrefreshing and poor quality sleep, having night terrors and sleep walking.
The most common effects associated with sleeping disorders can include constant fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, depression and anxiety.
Sleep disorders may have their roots in different areas such as medical, psychological or indeed environmental conditions. Some may even be associated with substance misuse.
An example of a psychological cause may be someone who experiences difficulty falling or staying asleep due to different stressful or traumatic events, which can cause anxiety and depression. The anxiety and depression in turn affects sleep and round and round it goes as if feeding on itself.
Counselling can help with managing and understanding sleeping disorders. A therapist can help you work through and understand the causes and reactions to the sleep disturbances. You can learn relaxation techniques and skills as together you focus on understanding why your sleep has been disturbed and focus on changing behaviours to help change unwanted sleep habits and develop healthier sleeping patterns.
In the meantime here are a few tips that might help with a better night’s sleep:
- Try winding down for about 20 to 30 minutes before going to bed
- Avoid caffeine or alcohol for about four hours before going to bed
- Don’t exercise before going to bed
- Don’t eat large meals within two hours before going to bed
- Try going to bed and getting up at the same time every day
- Sleep in a dark and quiet room
#sleepingdisorder
This article was written by sentientcounselling