Sleep Problems

Sleep is necessary for both our physical health and our mental wellbeing. We need adequate sleep in order to remain alert and responsive. Sleep also helps us to recover from injury and illness.

The average adult needs between seven and ten hours of good quality sleep per night. Sleep experts recommend that teenagers need between 7.5 and 9 hours of sleep each night.

The emphasis is on quality of sleep. More and better quality sleep would make most people happier, healthier, and safer. But getting a good night’s sleep is largely dependent on good psychological and physical health. Stress, anxiety and depression almost inevitably interfere with sleep, as do pain and a number of other medical conditions.

If you’re not getting your full quota of sleep every night, the chances are you’ll be waking up unrefreshed and you’ll be feeling drowsy through the day. You’ll find it difficult to concentrate and your ability to perform tasks involving memory, learning, logical reasoning and mathematical calculation will be limited. Your moods will become unpredictable and your close relationships may begin to suffer to the extent that you start alienating partners, family, and friends.

Everyone has a troubled night sometimes, or even a run of them – it’s part of being human; however, when lack of sleep compromises your ability to function effectively, then it is time to take action. I will work closely with you and help you to develop skills to successfully manage your sleep. I use a wide range of interventions that have proven to be effective for sleep difficulties. Essentially I will help you to develop good sleep habits, use effective relaxation techniques, adjust worrying thoughts and work with life problems that might be causing stress – which interferes with your sleep.