Fed up with counting sheep? Desperate for an undisturbed night of slumber? The secret to a good night’s sleep – according to local entrepreneur Kathryn Pinkham – is all in the way we think about it.
Sleep deprivation can lead to fatigue, learning and concentration difficulties, and accidents. Medication, illness, stress at work, and personal choice such as staying up late can all lead to a lack of adequate sleeping hours.
“One in ten adults in the UK experiences insomnia at some point in their lives,” says Kathryn. “A lot of people use sleeping pills, alcohol or other quick fixes to help, but unfortunately these are only short term solutions.”
Kathryn recognised a gap in the market for sleep therapy, and has set up her own insomnia therapy business – the first insomnia clinic in the Midlands – after finding her passion for sleep therapy whilst working as a psychological practitioner for the NHS.
She now helps people across Nottingham to sleep more soundly, by identifying the habits and thoughts that are preventing them from sleeping so she can then tailor a sleep therapy solution that works for them. Creating new habits, unlike taking sleeping pills, can provide an effective, long-term solution.
Sleep plays a critical role in your thinking and learning. A bad night impairs your concentration, alertness and your ability to solve problems the following day. At night, sleep cycles help consolidate memories in the mind and if you keep waking up and therefore interrupting the cycles, it affects your ability to remember what you learned and experienced during the day.
It’s not only adults who can be affected by lack of sleep. Children who do not get enough sleep can display symptoms including moodiness, tantrums and hyperactive behaviour.
The consequences of sleep depravation extend beyond tiredness and a lack of concentration; studies show that sleep loss can also lead to accidents, weight gain, depression, and serious health problems.
Clearly, a good night’s sleep is essential for overall wellbeing, yet sleep therapy is often only offered as part of a bigger psychological problem, and usually means patients are waiting a long time to receive the treatment.
Instead, Kathryn offers her clients face to face appointments in order to devise a tailored programme at a reasonable cost. She also offers a telephone or email service for those too busy to come and see her. She uses CBT therapy as is recommended by the NHS as the most effective, non-medical treatment for long term insomnia.
TOP TIPS FOR GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP
Keep Your Bedroom For Sleep.
It’s not for watching TV, work or eating! Anything ‘busy’ – desks, TVs, radios – need to be removed.
Only Go To Bed When You’re Tired.
If you’re in bed, awake and not sleepy, then get out of bed. This stops you associating your bed with feeling frustrated.
Make Good Use Of Daylight.
Our bodies are ‘programmed’ to use the light and dark to tell us when to wake and when to sleep. Get as much daylight as possible to help regulate your body clock.
No Caffeine Before Bedtime.
The stimulating effects of caffeine will keep you awake for around 3-4 hours, so stop drinking it at least four hours before bed.
Resist Having A Nightcap.
It might seem like a good idea, as the sedative effect of alcohol may help you drift off to sleep. Unfortunately, as the effect wears off the body starts to experience withdrawal which makes you restless and can lead to night-time waking.
No Napping!
As lovely as an afternoon siesta can be, if you suffer from insomnia then this nap time can make things worse. In order to sleep well at night we need to be tired and napping in the day reduces our drive to sleep.
Kathryn Pinkham
www.sleep-therapy.co.uk
Tel 07970 539 107 for a free consultation
Kathryn is a registered Member of the British
Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and also a member of the UK Health Centre Register.