A good night’s sleep has positive effects for us all, but in modern times with pressurised schedules this is an aspect of our daily living which may not be prioritised. Springtime is an ideal time to kick start some new sleep habits with a view to boosting your sleep, or just trying something new. 1. If possible, avoid using electronic devices at bedtime. 2. If possible, avoid using electronic devices through the night. 3. Set an ideal sleep time and try to loosely plan around it. 4. Check that your […]...
How to Deal with Sleep Problems This article deals with Dyssomnias, these are sleep problems characterised by abnormalities in the timing or quality of sleep, e.g. difficulty getting to sleep, staying asleep. Parasomnias or unusual behaviours that occur during sleep e.g. nightmare, sleeping walking, sleep talking/shouting, night terrors, are dealt with in a separate article. Sleep problems are one of the most common problems dealt with by Clinical Psychologists and Counselling Psychologists. Sleep problems can interfere significantly with the quality or a person’s life and are usually accompanied by high […]...
Dear Dr Gray, I have a sleep problem. I can usually get to sleep without too much trouble but I then wake up a couple of hours later and find it almost impossible to get back to sleep. Some nights I get as little as 2 hours sleep. I had some counselling sessions a few months ago and was taught some practical strategies, like not reading in bed, getting up instead of lying in bed when I can’t sleep but they didn’t make much difference. I have always been a […]...
Dear Dr Gray, I am not sure what is wrong with me, I feel terrible, I have no energy, I’m miserable, I struggle to get out of bed in the morning and feel completely worthless. I have also started to feel anxious if I have to leave the house. Please help. Simon (Clapham) Dr Gray Replies…….. Dear Simon, Your lack of energy and motivation, your struggle to get going in the morning and your low mood and low self esteem suggest you are suffering from depression. The fact that you […]...
