How Online Counselling Helps With Sleep Disorder

“Sleep is the best meditation.” – Dalai Lama

Ever seen a child in deep sleep, completely absorbed? It’s amazing how peaceful this baby seems. Adults long for uninterrupted sound sleep. But alas! Unfortunately, stress, anxiety, depression, and other factors have prevented us from getting a good night’s rest. It’s okay to have trouble sleeping for a few nights at a time. But, if this problem persists, it is known as a “Sleep Disorder”.

For the mind and body to function well, you must get enough sleep. Our sleeping habits have been affected by our changing lifestyles and unnatural work hours. This has led to an increase in cases of sleep disorders.

According to the American Psychiatric Association,

“sleep disorders (or sleep-wake disorder) are problems with sleep quality, timing, or amount, which can lead to daytime distress and impairments in functioning. Many sleep-wake disorders are associated with other mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive disorders. There are many types of sleep-wake disorders. Insomnia is the most common. Other sleep-wake disorders are parasomnias and narcolepsy as well as obstructive or obstructive sleeping apnea.”

Both emotional and physical problems can be linked to sleep difficulties. Sleep problems can either contribute to or exacerbate mental conditions. They can also be a sign of other mental conditions.

Why is sleep so important?

Our bodies work 24 hours a day, so it knows when to go to sleep according to the biological clock. On average, you need to sleep for around 7-8 hours. However, the majority of people sleep less than 6 hours.

It is vital to get enough sleep as sleep plays a significant role in many metabolic activities.

The sleep hours allow the body and mind to relax and recharge, allowing them to cope with wear and tear.

• Good sleep is important for digestion, absorption, and assimilation.
• Good sleep helps muscles relax
• For a productive mind and smooth functioning, it is important to get enough sleep
• Good sleep is essential for growth, development, immunity building, weight management, and overall well-being.
• Sleep is the best time to release growth hormones in children and adults.
• Deep sleep is a time when most body cells have increased production and decreased protein breakdown.
• Sleep is a time when major metabolic activities and other hormonal activities are performed, which can affect memory, heartbeat, brain functioning, and other major activities, thus affecting overall well-being.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, there are 4 types of sleep disorders.

• Insomnia: Insomnia is a condition in which you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep during the night.
• Sleep apnea: sleep apnea is a condition in which your breathing patterns change while you sleep. There are many types of sleep apnea.
• Restless legs syndrome (RLS): RLS is a type of sleep movement disorder. The Willis-Ekbom syndrome (also known as Restless Legs Syndrome) causes discomfort and a need to move your legs while you fall asleep.
• Narcolepsy: narcolepsy is a condition that causes extreme sleepiness and sudden falls asleep during the day.

Sleep Disorder: What are the symptoms?

Sleep disorder symptoms are easily identifiable. You can easily notice and experience the symptoms of sleep disorders.

• Feeling tired during the day and having difficulty falling asleep at night
• Unusual sleep patterns
• It is difficult to wake up and feel dizzy or sleepy even after you have woken up.
• It is dangerous to fall asleep while driving, walking, or working.
• Unusual breathing, feeling an unnatural urge to move when you try to fall asleep
• Unusual difficult movements during sleep
• An irregular sleeping and wake cycle

What are the main causes of sleeplessness?

Other diseases and lifestyle issues are the main causes of sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is getting more common. People try to change their lives to be more productive, but this can mean that they are losing sleep. As we age, the problem of not sleeping enough is a big issue.

Although older adults may need less sleep than younger ones, they are more likely to get longer periods of rest and take it in shorter amounts than younger people. Studies show that 50 percent of older adults suffer from sleep problems. Sleep loss can be caused by thyroid issues, premenstrual syndromes, perimenopause, postmenopause issues Stress, Anxiety, Depression, extreme work pressures, and extreme tiredness.

Side effects of sleep deficiency

These are the most common indicators that you don’t get enough sleep.

• Feeling tired or sleepy during the day
• Indifference to activities
• You fall asleep 5 minutes after you are laid down
• Micro sleeps are short periods of light sleep during daylight hours.
• An alarm must be able to wake you up at the right time every day.
• Feeling tired in the morning
• You may experience mood swings
• Foggy or forgetful mind, forgetfulness, dizziness or forgetfulness
• Focusing on one thing can be difficult

It seems like you are getting more sleep and there is no stopping it. To cope with the loss, your body enters Sleep Deficit Mode. You feel tired and fall asleep at short intervals until the loss is reduced.

How much sleep is enough for a human being?

The human body needs eight hours of sleep per night. This is generally accepted. Some people may need more sleep than others. However, different people have different needs for rest.

• Infants between the ages of 3 and 0 months have between 14 and 17 hours of sleep per day.
• Infants between 4 and 11 Months old need 12 to 15 hours of sleep per night.
• Children between the ages of 1 and 2 years need between 11 to 14 hours of sleep each night.
• Preschool-age children (ages 3-5 years) need between 10-13 hours of play each day.
• Students in school (ages 6-13 years old) need to work between 9-11 hours each day.
• Young adults between the ages of 14-and 17 require 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
• Adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep. Some people may need just 6 hours, while others might need 10 hours of sleep each night.
• Adults over 65 (age 65 or above) need between 7-and 8 hours of sleep per day.
• Women in their first three months of pregnancy usually need more sleep than normal.
• Premenstrual syndrome can affect sleep, leading to hypersomnia and hyposomnia in women.

Negative effects of sleep deprivation

• Memory problems. Memory problems, such as difficulty recalling important dates and events.
• Feeling depressed
• Increased Irritation
• Extreme mood swings
• Higher chance of getting the disease from a weaker immune system
• High blood pressure, coronary heart attack, diabetes, and other conditions are possible.
• Lower sexual drive
• Dark circles around the eyes
• A modified metabolism can lead to increased obesity and weight gain.
• Problem-solving and making the right decisions
• More likely to get migraines if you have a lot of headaches.
• Bad decision-making
• Hallucinations
• Higher risk of binge-eating disorder due to excessive caffeine intake and sleepiness
• Gastritis disorders

Treatment and therapy

There are many medicines available in Ayurveda and homeopathy. To treat sleeping disorders, one can combine medication, yoga, or therapy. A great way to treat a sleeping disorder is to consult an online counsellor psychologist.

Here are some ways to treat sleep disorder

1. Stress, anxiety, and depression are the main causes of sleep disorder, hence take help in this regard
2. Reduce your caffeine intake, particularly at night
3. Before you go to bed, practice yoga. Deep relaxation techniques can be used to combat stress anxiety and depression
4. To fall asleep, listen to soothing music, turn off all the lights, and electronic devices
5. Read bedtime stories. One can use a soft cuddle toy to get that comfortable feeling
6. Maintain a uniform room temperature. Avoid brightly colored lights and keep the room dark
7. Eat early, for at least 2 hours before you go to bed. Keep the meal light and easy to digest
8. You can choose one of the most effective treatments to treat sleep disorder
9. Talking with a counselor can help the individual overcome stress anxiety, depression, and other comorbidities
10. NLP (Neuro-linguistic program) is a powerful tool to root out sleeping disorders

How Online Counselling can help treat sleep disorder

The online counselling service includes professionals who can deal with a wide range of mental health problems and illnesses. Online counselors are available to help you, listen to your concerns, and provide solutions. You can access these services via chat, mail, audio call, and video call sessions. Now access professional assistance while being in the comforts of your home.

Here at OnlineCounseling4U is a platform where there are Mental Health Experts who are always ready to help you in times of need. Connect with our Psychologists /Counselors to rule out your mental health concerns from the roots.

As it is rightly said,

“Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.” – Thomas Dekker

Book a consultation for your child with our Child Therapist / Psychologist today.

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