Counseling for Sleep Disturbances
Many of us experience trouble sleeping at one time or another, perhaps due to stress, illness or travel disrupting our normal routines. Often our habits have changed over time and we don’t realize our diet has become unbalanced, that we’re drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, or that other aspects of our routine are creating sleep issues. If your sleep problems are a regular occurrence and are interfering with your daily life, you may want to dig a bit deeper to determine how best to right the situation.
First, identify your symptoms and sleep habits. What is happening and when? Are there particular things that seem to directly affect your sleep, either positively or negatively? Is this a new pattern? When did it begin? How much does the issue affect your day-to-day functioning? Having this information will help to determine whether or not to pursue a professional consultation.
Ruling out an underlying medical condition is a good place to start. If the issue is medical in nature, your doctor will be able to recommend an effective course of treatment. Once you have addressed the potential physical causes and find that you still have issues, consider talking with a licensed mental health professional who can help you identify the emotional connections and/or causes. Many mental health challenges have sleep problems as a symptom such as depression, anxiety, and trauma and your counselor will be able to assist you by using the most appropriate therapeutic modalities for your issues.
The most common sleep issues include:
insomnia – a hard time falling or staying asleep
sleep apnea – breathing interruptions during sleep
restless legs syndrome – a tingling or prickly sensation in the legs
narcolepsy – daytime “sleep attacks”
nightmares or night terrors
sleepwalking or sleep talking
wetting the bed
grinding your teeth
Again, determining whether your sleep issue has a physical or emotional basis is essential in creating the change you desire. Often, making adjustments to our daytime routines, such as limiting our caffeine consumption and increasing exercise, can improve our sleep. Additionally, assessing our bedtime routine can bring clarity about other aspects we may be able to change. If self-help does not seem to improve the sleep problems, seek professional help either from your doctor or a licensed clinical social worker or counselor.
As a licensed clinical social worker and therapist for over 25 years, Kristine is adept at recognizing and treating sleep problems connected to mental health issues. If you or someone you care about could benefit from some support, reach out to Kristine by calling 321-280-9120. She offers a free 15-minute consultation to answer any questions you may have before you begin work together.
Kristine is a licensed therapist with private practice in DeLand, Florida and St. Joseph, Michigan. The option of online counseling is available to anyone who lives in the states of Michigan and Florida.
Online therapy is not the best option for everyone. Some issues are best addressed face-to-face. Reach out to discover whether face-to-face or online is the best fit for you and your journey.