Having problems with sleep is normal during times of stress or strong emotion, however if this persists longer than the stressor then you may be suffering from a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders include a range of problems including insomnia, sleep apnoea, restless leg syndrome, jet lag and narcolepsy. The most commonly reported of these disorders is insomnia. When sleep is disturbed it can have a negative affect on energy levels, mood and concentration.
There are factors which make people more vulnerable to insomnia. Vulnerability factors include being female, being depressed, having a high arousal level, shift work, reaching older age, chronic illness and having had insomnia in the past.
Common stressors which can trigger insomnia include divorce, bereavement, financial worries, job or work stress. These stressors are usually the reason for the initial sleep disturbance but then compensatory behaviours are used to manage the lack of sleep which create poor habits and keep the problem going. Common compensatory behaviours include drinking more caffeine, going to bed earlier, staying in bed longer, napping during the day and taking sleeping tablets.
Signs and symptoms of Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Struggling to get to sleep which can cause frustration
- Problems staying asleep
- Waking up early and not being able to get back to sleep
- Poor concentration due to fatigue
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Irritability due to lack of sleep
- Low mood
- Fatigue
- Frustration
- Not feeling refreshed or well rested during the day
- Making mistakes or errors (e.g. at work)
- Ongoing worries about sleep
What type of therapy can help?
Therapy can help to improve sleep hygiene and adjust circadian rhythms. Therapies that can help with sleep problems are:
Therapy can help by using sleep behavioural strategies such as sleep restriction to help improve the quality of sleep. It also uses cognitive strategies which help you to reduce the worry about not sleeping. If you are struggling with your sleep get in touch.
Why should I choose Turning Tides?
At Turning Tides, our team of Psychologists are highly trained and have many years of experience working with common mental health conditions and sleep difficulties. Our therapists are all fully qualified in using a range of different approaches that can be helpful in managing problems with sleep and they are able to integrate aspects of different approaches to ensure your sessions meet your individual needs. The aim of therapy is to provide you with the tools you need to be able to manage your sleep independently.
Our psychologists can help you to understand the difficulties you are having with sleep, exploring some of the different factors that have brought you to where you are today. Based on these individual factors, they will teach you strategies to effectively help you sleep better and allow you to move forwards in your life.
We offer regular face to face appointments at our modern and comfortable clinic in Hoult's Yard, Newcastle or we can offer online therapy via Zoom if you live further afield or have a preference for online sessions.
Our fees
We have tried to keep our pricing as simple and straightforward as possible. We charge £120 for a 60 minute appointment, regardless of whether this is an assessment or therapy session. Our fees are the same for face-to-face appointments and online appointments as you will receive the same high standard of care from our psychologists, regardless of how it is delivered.
Contact Us Today
For a free 15-minute consultation with a psychologist complete the contact us form.
