“Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together”

Thomas Dekker (1572-1632)

 

Although there is no one ideal length of sleep (some require 10 hours per night, others such as Margaret Thatcher and Napoleon claimed to fully function on 3-4 hours per night), it performs an important physical and mental restorative function in all our lives.

 

Many people find sleeping difficult to achieve and, as a result, can become stressed out and incapable of functioning properly in their daily lives. Insomnia can also often be linked to other problems such as stress, anxiety and depression.

 

If sleeping is difficult, counselling can be helpful in identifying an underlying cause such as those mentioned above or if it is more down to a lack of good ‘sleep hygiene’ in a person’s life. Knowing how much we need, examining our sleep patterns and learning appropriate relaxation techniques can help to recover that feeling of being refreshed, energised and more capable of tackling life more productively.