You are exhausted, but as soon as you get into bed, your mind seems to become more active.
You think about tomorrow’s responsibilities. You replay something that happened during the day. You check the time and start worrying about how little sleep you are going to get.
Then the cycle starts again.
Difficulty sleeping from time to time is common. When it happens regularly, however, it can start affecting your mood, concentration and energy during the day.
Why Is It Hard to Fall Asleep?
There can be many reasons.
Some adults struggle to sleep because of:
• Stress at work or home
• Persistent worrying
• Changes in routine
• Poor sleep habits
• Relationship difficulties
• Major life changes
• Anxiety
• Ongoing emotional pressure
Sometimes several factors are happening at the same time.
For example, you may stay awake worrying about work, sleep poorly, feel exhausted the next day and then become more anxious about getting enough sleep the following night.
When Your Mind Will Not Switch Off
One of the most frustrating experiences is being physically tired while mentally alert.
You may notice thoughts such as:
“Did I finish everything?”
“What if tomorrow goes badly?”
“Why can’t I fall asleep?”
“How am I going to function tomorrow?”
Worrying about sleep itself can become part of the problem.
Poor Sleep Can Affect More Than Energy
A few bad nights can leave you tired.
Ongoing sleep difficulties may also affect:
• Concentration
• Patience
• Mood
• Work performance
• Relationships
• Motivation
• Ability to manage everyday stress
If poor sleep continues, it is worth looking beyond the number of hours you are spending in bed and considering what may be keeping you awake.
When Should You Seek Help?
If difficulty sleeping continues despite making reasonable changes to your routine, speaking with a healthcare professional may be useful.
Psychological support can be particularly relevant when sleep problems occur alongside persistent worry, anxiety, stress or emotional difficulties.
Sleep problems can also have physical or medical causes, so an appropriate medical assessment may be needed depending on your symptoms.
How Psychotherapy Can Help With Sleep Related Difficulties
Psychotherapy can help identify thoughts, behaviours and emotional factors that may be contributing to ongoing sleep problems.
The approach depends on the individual. For some people, addressing anxiety or stress may be an important part of improving sleep. Others may benefit from more specific strategies for changing patterns around sleep.
Adult Psychotherapy in Doha
Mind Institute provides adult psychotherapy for people experiencing anxiety, stress, emotional difficulties and sleep related concerns.
Our psychologists take a personalised approach and work with adults from Qatar’s diverse community in a confidential clinical environment. Mind Institute is licensed by Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health.
If difficulty sleeping is affecting your everyday life, learn more about Adult Psychotherapy at Mind Institute or book an appointment.
FAQs
Stress, anxiety, an active mind, changes in routine and other factors can make it difficult to fall asleep even when you feel physically tired.
Yes. Persistent worry and anxiety can make it difficult to relax and settle down at night.
Persistent sleep difficulties that affect your wellbeing or daytime functioning may warrant an assessment for insomnia or another sleep problem.
Psychological support can help address stress, anxiety, thought patterns and behaviours that may be contributing to ongoing sleep difficulties.