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Sleeping
Sleep is a natural, vital process that allows the mind and body to rest and recover. Most people arrive at their own balanced sleeping rhythm, however for some, a good night’s rest is not so simple. Sleep needs vary from individual to individual, and the most common sleeping problem that people report is insomnia (a difficulty getting to/staying asleep, coupled with problems during waking hours as a result).
Ongoing problems and disruptions with one’s natural sleeping pattern can occur for a number of reasons, including physical factors (e.g., overweight, ageing), psychological changes (e.g., increased stress, anxiety, depression), and environmental causes (e.g., new neighbours, change in shift hours or workload). These disruptions to a restorative and regular sleep cycle can in turn cause other significant problems, such as fatigue at work, great stress at night time, noticeable mood changes, greater psychological problems, and in chronic cases, even health risks (such as lowered immunity and heightened blood pressure). Working with a psychologist may be part of the solution to returning to a healthy pattern of sleep, as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is one of the most effective treatments for sleep disorders, especially when combined with help from a prescribing doctor.
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One person's experience
Liz has not really slept well for a while. Now in her late 30s, she can look back and plot a consistent pattern of greater sleep disruption during periods of greater strain – whether that be stress from a workplace situation, difficult family circumstances, when experiencing relationship problems, or other substantial life changes. Disrupted sleep has become so consistent in Liz’s life that, nowadays, whenever her sleeping patterns change, she asks herself what she’s been unwittingly stressing about.
Liz was surprised at how relevant or helpful it was to see a psychologist about sleeping troubles. “I guess I had always thought my sleeping problems were a biological thing. I’d tried natural remedies and even medication – the medication worked, but I found I spent most of the next day battling what felt like a horrible hangover. I guess I just thought I had to put up with it. Talking to my therapist though helped me understand more about the different stages of sleep, why I was waking up at some times more than others, and what I could do about it. For example, I found out that I was making my own sleeping pattern worse in a number of ways, which hadn’t really been explained to me that way before (other than the usual “cut back on coffee”). My therapist also got me onto a number of different ways of improving my sleep directly – some have helped more than others, but I can definitely say that I sleep better these days. Whenever I find my sleep getting affected nowadays, I know to try all of those suggestions. I also know that sleeping better is part of working on the bigger problem of managing my overall stress.
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