How Therapy Can Help You Sleep Better at Night

Are you having trouble sleeping? If you are not sleeping well at night, and aren’t quite sure why you may need to work with a therapist to see if you can determine what is affecting you. Here’s a look at how therapy might be able to help you get the sleep that you need.

Sleep and Mental Health

You may or may not know that getting the proper amount of sleep is quite important for your overall mental health, but this is something that you should be aware of. When you are getting the sleep you need, you might be able to handle stressful situations easier and manage your mood better as well, as is explained by APA.

Talking to a Therapist

Anytime you are losing sleep, or your sleep isn’t as effective as you would like it to be, you should consider working with a therapist. They may be able to talk to you about treatment options, as well as suggest other things for you to try. If you are unable to sleep because of a mental health condition, they should be able to assist you when it comes to treating this as well.

When you talk to a therapist about your sleeping difficulties, they will be able to determine what your treatment options are. In some cases, a therapist may determine that you need to fix up your bedroom to make sure it is comfortable and cool enough for you to stay asleep. In other cases, they might prescribe medicines that help you sleep. It is important, to be honest with your therapist, so they will know the best way to assist you.

Other Things to Consider

There are a few other things you can change about your routine, which may be able to lend a hand and let you get some sleep. These things are best used in conjunction with therapy. Some of these tips and more are discussed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

  • When you are not sleeping enough, you may need to start exercising regularly. This involves getting your body moving a few times a week, for around 30 minutes. Moreover, exercise might be able to help you work off some of the energy that you have that keeps you up at night.
  • Limit alcohol and caffeine. You should also consider limiting the amount of alcohol and caffeine that you ingest. Caffeine is okay to drink in the morning but do what you can to stop drinking coffee in the afternoon or near your bedtime.
  • Cut screen time. Another thing that may be keeping you up are the screens you are staring at. If you take your phone in your bedroom with you, this might cause you to stay awake when you should be sleeping. Figure out a time when you are going to stop looking at your phone and stick with this time. It is important that you use your bedroom for sleeping and nothing else, like at a dinner table or for binge-watching television.
  • Avoid naps. Even if you find yourself losing some steam before it is time to go to bed, you should try not to take a nap. Of course, if you need to take a nap, you should take them in the mornings instead of later in the afternoon. Taking a nap late in the day may cause you to be unable to sleep at bedtime.

Conclusion

Getting enough sleep is imperative, so you are able to get through your day and get necessary tasks accomplished. When this is being affected and you can’t get the proper sleep, meeting with a therapist is a good idea for a few reasons. Think about working with a counsellor and incorporating the additional tips mentioned above into your routine, and you may be able to sleep again. You won’t know until you try them for yourself.

Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with MyTherapist.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.