Sleep disorders

What are sleep disorders

Sleep is the period in which the mind and body recover, consolidate memory and regulate emotions. When sleep suffers, the effects are felt throughout your life: concentration, mood, energy, health.

Sleep disorders are more than “a bad night”. We mean difficulties that persist (falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up rested) or a sleep-wake rhythm turned upside down that no longer fits everyday life.

The vicious circle of insomnia

One of the features of persistent insomnia is that it sustains itself. The pattern is almost always the same:

A period of poor sleep (after stress, a change or an illness) leads to tiredness and to the fear of not sleeping the following night either. That fear creates tension right at bedtime, exactly the opposite of what sleep needs. The harder you try to fall asleep, the further sleep slips away. Over time, the bed itself becomes associated with restlessness rather than rest.

This circle can be broken, though rarely through mere “willpower to sleep”. That is why methods designed specifically for insomnia help: they target the very mechanism that keeps it going.

When to see a specialist

An assessment is worthwhile if:

• your sleep problems have lasted for several weeks or keep coming back
• poor sleep affects your day: energy, mood, concentration, performance
• you have come to dread going to bed
• you rely on alcohol, sleeping pills or other means to fall asleep
• you wake up tired despite the hours spent in bed
• your sleep problems come with anxiety, sadness or other symptoms that worry you

With a specialist’s guidance, sleep can improve, and restful nights can become ordinary again.

See also: Deep sleep and “brain cleaning”

The first step

If you recognise yourself in what you’ve read, book a conversation with one of our specialists. Together, we’ll look at what’s going on and what your options are.

Services: Psychiatry · Psychotherapy · Psychological assessment
See our team and pricing.

This information is for educational purposes and does not replace a specialist consultation.