You probably won’t truly understand the importance of good sleep until you experience a lack of it. Humans spend about eight hours sleeping every night, which totals to a third of their lives, or roughly 26 years in a lifetime.
But the big question is: do you get your eight hours of sleep? A 2024 sleep survey revealed otherwise, finding that people in the UK sleep for only six hours a night on average.
Beyond the numbers, what’s so special about having a good night’s rest? How do sleep disorders affect our sleep and well-being? And what is sleep therapy, and how can it help you sleep better?
If you’re curious to know the answers to any of these questions, you’ve come to the right place. Offering cognitive sleep therapy for insomnia and other sleep issues, I’m Mark Greenaway-Robbins, and I’m here to help you restore your sleep with therapy.
Why We Sleep and Sleep Stages
Just like you need food and water, sleep is vital for your survival, and a lack of it can affect your overall health and well-being. According to some sleep theories, sleeping in one block at night allowed early humans to avoid predators, conserve energy, and rest. It also helped them adjust to a 24-hour day-night cycle called the circadian rhythm.
Many people see good sleep as the ultimate elixir, and rightfully so. Physiologically, enough quality sleep helps your brain and body restore itself. It can also directly impact how well you think, react, work, learn, and get along with others. To put it simply, the way you feel when you’re awake depends partly on what happens while you’re sleeping.
Stages of Sleep
There are four stages of sleep, each playing an important role:
- Stage 1 (NREM): The transition from wakefulness to sleep
- Stage 2 (NREM): Light sleep stage, where your heart rate slows down and body temperature drops
- Stage 3 (NREM): Deep sleep stage, supports immune function and restores your body
- REM Sleep: The dreaming stage, helps with your memory, mood, and brain function
Here, NREM refers to Non-Rapid Eye Movement, while REM refers to Rapid Eye Movement.
Why Getting Enough Sleep is Important
While you’re getting a restful night, your body is busy at work. Here’s what happens:
Physical Restoration
Sleep is the time your body repairs and rebuilds itself. The lymphatic system detoxes and boosts the immune system.
Reduces Stress
Sleep is also a powerful stress reliever. A good night’s rest improves your concentration, regulates your mood, and can even improve your decision-making.
Boosts Memory
Memory processing and sleep are linked, helping your mind to strengthen neural connections to create memories.
Manages Body Weight
Poor sleep can throw off the hormones that regulate your hunger and appetite. A consistent sleep routine helps you maintain a stable body weight and prevents obesity.
Supports Good Mental Health
There’s evidence to suggest lack of sleep leads to certain mental health issues. The most common sleep disorder is insomnia.
Prevents Illness
Depriving yourself of good-quality sleep can affect your health in the long term. Sleep deprivation is linked to chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illness, and some neurodegenerative diseases.
The above factors illustrate the importance of good sleep, especially in today’s world, where our stressful lives take a toll on our bodies and minds.
What is Sleep Therapy?
Poor quality sleep and sleep deprivation can tempt you to reach for an over-the-counter sleeping pill.
Sleep medication may put you to bed, but it won’t address the underlying problems that are leading to your sleep issues. In fact, it may make things worse over the long term. Sleeping medication has its time and place, but for a long-term resolution, experts recommend therapy with lifestyle changes.
Sleep therapy is a form of therapeutic intervention that helps improve sleep quality, particularly for those with sleep disorders like insomnia.
Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the most commonly used form of sleep therapy to address the negative thoughts and behaviours affecting your sleep. Cognitive sleep therapy for insomnia has shown high success rates in treating this sleep disorder.
As your psychotherapist with CBT approaches and tools, I’ll take the time to understand your current sleep patterns and habits. With this information, I’ll then teach you how to change your behaviour before bedtime and alter the thought patterns that keep you from falling asleep. CBT therapy with me can help you learn ways to relax, keep anxiety and stress at bay, and get a good night’s rest.
Set a Sleep Hygiene Routine with Me, Mark GR
Whether you’re suffering from chronic insomnia or experiencing nightmares, making improvements to your sleep takes time and commitment. To help you on your journey, you need a therapist whom you can trust and feel comfortable talking to. They can guide you in making lifestyle changes and committing to an improved sleep hygiene routine.
With my CBT approach to therapy sessions, you’ll gain the tools and knowledge to enjoy quality sleep once more. In a welcoming space at my clinic or online, we’ll work together to address your sleep problems and the underlying issues behind them.
Fill in a form, call, text, or email me, and let’s discuss whether my cognitive sleep therapy sessions are suitable for you.
