
30 Apr Struggling to Sleep? Effective Therapy for Sleep
Therapy for Sleep Can Help You Switch Off and Reclaim Rest…
In today’s high-pressure world, quality sleep often feels out of reach—especially if you’re juggling intense responsibilities, ADHD, chronic overthinking, or living in a near-constant state of anxiety. I’ve been there, read on, I’ll share my personal journey later…
Many people in demanding careers or with neurodivergent brains find themselves stuck in fight-or-flight mode, unable to switch off at night. The mind races, the body stays alert, and rest becomes another item on an endless to-do list. This was me for years!
Why You Can’t Sleep: The Real Causes
Sleep issues aren’t just about bad habits. Often, they’re rooted in deeper challenges:
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- ADHD or high-functioning anxiety that keeps the brain in overdrive
- Hyperarousal from workplace stress or trauma
- Overthinking that spikes at bedtime
- Demanding careers that blur the lines between rest and productivity
- Chronic nervous system dysregulation from ongoing pressure
How Therapy for Sleep Works
Therapeutic approaches help calm the mind, regulate the nervous system, and build healthier patterns. This can include:
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- Nervous system regulation and grounding techniques
- Tools to reduce mental chatter and promote calm
- Tailored strategies for ADHD and executive dysfunction
- Addressing emotional root causes of chronic stress
Reclaim Your Sleep, Reclaim Your Life
If sleep feels impossible, you’re not alone—and it’s not your fault. Therapy for sleep can help you shift from survival mode to true rest and repair.
My Journey from chronic sleep anxiety and terrifying sleep paralysis to sleeping easily, consistently and soundly.
At its worst I was drinking alcohol, taking sleeping tablets, drinking Night Nurse, and smoking weed in a desperate attempt to sleep. The more I tried to sleep the less I slept. I would literally lie awake worrying about sleep, and the knock-on effect it would have the next day, which included emotional outbursts, irritability, and an inability to cope with the simple tasks and demands of the day. It was an endless cycle. I was labelled high maintenance by friends, work clients and family and it seemed no one understood the depth of the internal struggles I was having.
What changed my life and allowed me to sleep peacefully and naturally was hypnotherapy and it was on the main reasons I became so passionate about learning this essential skill to share with and help others. I’ve been there and can help you!
5 Practical Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep.
- Make sure you’re hydrated. Drink 2 litres of water a day. It’s easy to forget how much you’ve drunk, so try a water bottle with a gauge on it. Dehydration can cause lack of sleep, so minimal or no alcohol. Try to minimise caffeine or stop drinking mid-afternoon to help with a good night’s sleep. Avoid energy drinks which increase anxiety.
- Affirmations. When you’re ready to wind down try taking a few deep breaths with your eyes closed and say this affirmation (or something similar in your own words) “I am choosing to wind down from the day now and give my mind the rest it deserves and needs, and I trust that anything that is important to me can wait until the morning and be put to bed for now.”
- Set Boundaries. Wherever you can, unless you need to be on call, set a time to suit you where you will stop work related calls/emails. It’s easy to feel that every call and email needs to be replied to instantly, however if you can try and set a boundary that will work for you. This is essential for self-care and helps with switching off, if you do need a screen after 9pm try and use screen glasses.
- Optimise bedroom conditions. Use blackout curtains if you need to, and low lighting if you’re winding down. A tidy bedroom and comfortable bed, temperature and air flow are crucial to a good night’s sleep. The optimal temperature for sleep is 15-19F. The right Tog duvet for the season, a fan and air purifier all help circulate quality air for sleep. If possible, allow fresh air in through an open window, or an air conditioner where needed.
- Plan your next day before bedtime. Write down all of your ‘to-do’s’ in your diary or phone before bed so that you aren’t trying to remember things and have a pad and pen (not phone) to jot any down anything you miss if it comes to you after bedtime. Trying to remember things that aren’t written down keeps our brain active, and we worry we will forget. Then Tip 2.
If you know all this and you’re struggling to implement these things and other positive changes to facilitate sleep, then that’s where I come in.
🔗 Click here to book a free consultation and explore how therapy can help you finally get the deep, restorative sleep you deserve.
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Contact me directly here with any questions:https://rebeccadakin.com/contact-me/