Sleep is something we often don’t think much about — until it starts to feel elusive. Lying awake at night, waking unrefreshed, or feeling constantly tired despite spending enough hours in bed can quietly erode our mood, resilience, and sense of wellbeing.
Yet sleep is not a passive state. It is one of the most active and restorative processes our brain and body undertake — essential for emotional regulation, memory, immune function, and mental health.
Neuroscientist and sleep researcher Matthew Walker, author of Why We Sleep, describes sleep as essential “overnight therapy” for the brain. During sleep, particularly deep and REM sleep, the brain processes emotional experiences, consolidates learning, and helps reset the nervous system. In simple terms, sleep helps us feel more like ourselves again.
Many people I work with struggle with falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking feeling unrefreshed — often alongside anxiety, stress, or ongoing life pressures. When the mind feels busy or the nervous system remains on high alert, rest can feel elusive.
Less often spoken about, but just as important, is oversleeping. Sleeping significantly more than usual can sometimes be linked to emotional exhaustion, prolonged stress, low mood, or a nervous system that has been under strain for a long time. For others, it can be part of recovery, illness, or a natural response to life feeling overwhelming.
Rather than viewing sleep patterns as “good” or “bad”, it can be more helpful to become gently curious about what your body and mind might be communicating. Sleep is often a signal — not a problem in itself, but an invitation to listen more closely.
In therapy, we often begin by paying attention to these quieter signals: sleep, energy levels, emotional rhythms. Supporting the nervous system to feel safer and more settled can, in turn, allow sleep to return more naturally — without force or pressure.
If you’re interested in learning more about the science of sleep, Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker is a thoughtful and accessible read: https://www.sleepdiplomat.com
With rest in mind,
Katrina