The Colorado Counselor Blog

Trouble sleeping can be a sign that things may be a little "off" in your life. We all hear stories like "I could not sleep before my big job interview", or "I have not been sleeping well lately". While one is anticipation and fear of the future, the later is brewing something that may be unresolved.

Unresolved issues can fester and come out in poor sleep patterns. I recommend to my clients to write things that are bothering them down on a piece of paper. Give yourself time to let out any concerns or worries. By doing this you externalize the worry. Externalizing worry is one of the best ways to find relief. Writing things down also allows us to feel more in control, as worries and anxiety can feel so out of our control. Many people are so confused by the way their worries overtake them. Disturbance of sleep is one of the signs that your worries are getting the better of you.

If you find yourself waking in the middle of the night, get up and write down what is going on in your mind. This will help put your mind to rest. Having bedtime rituals is another way to unwind from a busy day and cherish rest and relaxation. Talking to a therapist can also help work through sleep issues on a deeper level.

If the sleep remedies above are not helpful, you may have a more severe issue. Depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and trauma can all be contributors to lack of sleep. Often times medications are a good solution when nothing else seems to work. I always recommend if you are going to go on medications, seek out counseling as well.