Sleep is one of the most powerful and often underestimated foundations of both physical and mental health. We tend to think of sleep as something optional, something we can push off when life gets busy, or a luxury we’ll “catch up on later” but sleep is much more than rest. It is a biological necessity that supports every system in the body, from immune functioning and hormone balance to emotional regulation and cognitive performance.
As a health psychologist, I frequently meet patients who have been struggling with sleep for months or even years before seeking help. Many have tried to push through, hoping things would improve on their own, only to realize that the impact of poor sleep reaches far beyond nighttime.
There are many causes why people develop insomnia or disrupted sleep for many reasons. Some of the most common include:
• Illness or medical conditions: A diagnosis such as cancer, chronic pain, autoimmune disease, or post-surgical recovery can significantly disrupt sleep patterns. The body is working harder than usual, and rest becomes more fragile.
• Changes in work or routine: Shift work, late-night responsibilities, and irregular schedules can retrain the brain to stay alert when it should be winding down.
• Stressful life transitions: Grief, caregiving demands, breakups, job changes, or major life stressors often activate the nervous system, making it difficult to fall or stay asleep.
• Anxiety or rumination: A racing mind, nighttime worrying, or feeling “on edge” can turn bedtime into a place where stress shows up most intensely.
Regardless of the cause, once sleep becomes disrupted, the body adapts quickly, sometimes too quickly, and insomnia becomes a learned pattern that can persist long after the original stressor has passed.
When patients reach out to me, it’s often because the consequences of poor sleep have started affecting their daily life. They often describe persistent fatigue that makes even small tasks feel overwhelming, trouble concentrating, staying focused, or remembering details irritability or emotional sensitivity, lower motivation, especially for things they once enjoyed or feeling like they are operating at 50% or less. Many have tried sleep medications, and while these can offer short-term relief, they often stop working overtime or create dependency. People begin to feel stuck, tired, frustrated, and unsure of what else to do.
But why does sleep matters so much? Sleep is where the brain resets and repairs itself. During deep sleep your emotional centers regulate, helping you cope with stress. Your cognitive functions like memory, decision-making, concentration strengthens. Also, your immune system repairs, fighting off illness and your metabolism balances, helping regulate weight and appetite. Lastly, your nervous system calms, reducing chronic pain and tension. When sleep is disrupted, these essential processes become compromised. Over time, poor sleep can increase the risk of depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and chronic pain.
Sleep is not simply “rest.” It is maintenance for both mind and body. Many people assume that once their sleep gets disrupted, it’s something they simply have to accept. But this is not true.
Poor sleep is treatable, and you deserve the right support for you.
Working with a psychologist who is trained in evidence-based treatments for insomnia such as CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) can lead to significant improvements in sleep quality and duration, daytime energy, mood stability, cognitive clarity, and overall functioning and well-being. CBT-I is also considered the gold-standard, first-line intervention for chronic insomnia, often more effective than medication and without long-term side effects.
When we improve sleep, everything else begins to shift, your energy increases, patience returns, thinking becomes clearer, and people often feel more like their true selves again. If your sleep has been disrupted for weeks, months, or years, please know that help is available. You don’t have to navigate these nights or the exhausting days that follow on your own.
