Sleep disorder treatment

Struggling with restless nights and fatigue? Discover expert-led treatments for sleep disorders designed to help you regain restful, energising sleep.

Take the first step towards better sleep – book your free initial consultation today.

Start Recovery

On this page: Examples Symptoms Causes Treatment Helpful tips

This page was clinically reviewed by Dr Liam Parsonage (BA, MBBS, MRCPsych) at Priory Hospital North London.

Sleep disorders are characterised by a frequent inability to achieve good quality sleep. If you have a sleep disorder, you'll commonly find it difficult to fall or stay asleep and fail to feel refreshed and rested the next day.

The most common form of sleep disorder is insomnia, which is defined by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as the "inability to initiate or maintain sleep or to obtain good sleep quality despite adequate opportunity to do so, accompanied by significant daytime consequences of poor sleep".

If you're finding that your sleep problems are becoming more frequent, and are having a detrimental impact on your ability to function on a day-to-day basis, it may be that you've developed a sleep disorder and need expert therapy.

Examples of sleep disorders

Insomnia

Insomnia is an inability or delay in getting to sleep, or being unable to sleep for a suitable amount of time once you do drift off. Insomnia is the most common sleep complaint, with a higher rate of reported insomnia in women. Approximately one in three women suffer from insomnia at some point in their lives. This may be because women are more likely to get help for unsatisfactory sleep than men.

Insomnia seems to become more prevalent with increasing age, although children and adolescents can also be affected by it. It's frequently associated with mood disorders such as anxiety or depression, as well as other health conditions, stress, jet lag, high caffeine intake, and some medications as a possible side effect.

Sleep apnoea

Occurs when there are pauses in breathing or when breathing temporarily stops repeatedly for short periods of seconds or a few minutes during your sleep. This disruption can cause exhaustion and irritability the following day, and is a serious disorder which can be life-threatening if it's not medically treated.

Narcolepsy

Describes uncontrollable daytime sleepiness which can cause involuntary and unpredictable periods of sleep when at work, driving, or even in the middle of a conversation. This happens due to a problem with the part of your brain that regulates sleeping and waking, which would usually respond to triggers such as brightness in order to prepare your body for more socially appropriate waking and sleeping cycles.

As many people with narcolepsy can experience symptoms of depression, due to its impact on daily life, psychotherapy and counselling at Priory can help you cope with the effects of the disorder, and help you to learn techniques to managing sleep cycles as best you can.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS)

This is an urge to move your legs and sometimes arms during the night, and is often brought on by a general feeling of being uncomfortable, including tingling or aching sensations experienced when lying down. Learning techniques to manage levels of stress and improving the amount of sleep you get can reduce associated symptoms.

Signs and symptoms of a sleep disorder

Sleep needs vary by individual, but consistently getting less than 3.5 hours per night can lead to negative effects from sleep deprivation.

Difficulty falling or staying asleep - often linked to physical conditions like pain or sleep apnoea
Unusual breathing patterns - indicative of disorders like sleep apnoea
Unusual or unpleasant urges to move while falling asleep - often a sign of RLS
Unintentional changes to your sleep/wake schedule - could indicate circadian rhythm disorders
Interrupted sleep - may be caused by physical discomfort, such as an uncomfortable bed
Waking up early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep - can be due to physical health issues
Waking up tired and feeling un-refreshed - often a result of poor quality sleep due to physical disturbances

Daytime fatigue and drowsiness - can be linked to psychological stress or mental health disorders
Strong urge to take naps during the day - often a response to psychological fatigue
Unusual movement or other experiences while asleep - can include sleepwalking or nightmares, often linked to psychological factors
Irritability or anxiety - commonly associated with psychological aspects of sleep disorders
Impaired performance at work or school - often a result of cognitive impacts from psychological sleep disturbances
Lack of concentration and indecisiveness - can stem from mental fatigue due to disrupted sleep
Depression - often both a cause and effect of sleep disorders
Weight gain - can be linked to psychological stress and changes in mood and behaviour
Being awake for most of the night, despite wanting to sleep - can be influenced by psychological conditions like anxiety or depression
Struggling to complete day-to-day tasks and reduced productivity - often a result of psychological exhaustion
Agitation - can be a psychological response to chronic sleep deprivation

Causes of a sleep disorder

Sleep can be affected by a range of factors, including environmental influences as well as your general mental and physical health. The following may all increase the likelihood that you may develop a sleep disorder:

Existing mental health problems (e.g. depression, stress, bipolar disorder)
Certain physical health conditions (e.g. respiratory conditions, chronic pain)
Certain medications (e.g. steroid medication, medication for epilepsy)
Poor sleeping environment
Inconsistent sleep routine
Napping during the day
Shift work
Smoking cigarettes, especially in the evening
Consuming alcohol prior to going to bed
Drinking too much caffeine, especially in the evening
Recreational drug use

Further possible factors which may contribute to developing a sleep disorder include:

Genetics

Studies have shown that sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, which is caused by a part of the brain controlling sleep and wakefulness not functioning correctly, may be due to an inherited problem from birth.

Working unsociable hours

Despite your biological clock making you feel sleepy during darkened hours, if your job requires you to work during the evening, then you can't fall asleep during these natural hours. This could contribute to you developing a sleep disorder as your most energetic part of the day is at a time when your body naturally wants to ‘wind down’.

Medications

If you're taking certain types of drugs, such as some antidepressants or blood pressure medication, the time of day that you take this, as well as side effects of these drugs can create problems with sleep. It's important to remember that everyone reacts to these drugs differently, and it may take time for them to settle in your system enough for any unwanted side effects to wear off.

Ageing

It's thought that around half of adults over the age of 65 have symptoms of a sleep disorder. This could be due to your brain adjusting to old age, or taking account of the fact that you may experience a greater number of health problems and general aches and pains, which could lead to poorer quality of sleep in comparison to when you were younger.

Treatment for sleep disorders at Priory

The first step in your journey will be to receive a detailed assessment, which will help your allocated specialist to determine whether or not your sleep problems are being influenced or caused by any other co-existing conditions that may need treating. Your specialist will then be able to direct your treatment according to your specific requirements.

As a next step, our highly qualified specialists will teach you simple behavioural and lifestyle changes that you can make, in order to improve your ability to achieve consistent, good quality sleep. These changes may include sleep hygiene measures and regular relaxation exercises. These steps are vital in good sleep management as people need to take an active role in their therapy and treatment, if progress is to be maintained.

Our experts also use cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as a means of tackling the symptoms associated with sleep disorders, and addressing any underlying problems. CBT is widely used in sleep disorder therapy, and works by addressing the misconceptions, attitudes and unhelpful behaviours that may be contributing to your sleep disorder, before encouraging you to view situations in healthier ways. This technique has been found to be highly effective as a means of helping people to achieve a consistent sleep pattern and improve their health and wellbeing.

Four ways you can improve your sleep

When you're living with a sleep disorder, it's important that you get professional help and guidance to help manage your stress levels, alongside undergoing a treatment programme to treat underlying mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, which may be causing you to have difficulty sleeping.

Despite this, maintaining a positive daytime and bedtime routine can ensure that you continue to be free from the symptoms of a sleep disorder and are able to live a happy and healthy life.

Listed below are four lifestyle changes you can make which may improve your quality of sleep and overall wellbeing:

Regular sleep hours: Maintaining consistent sleep and wake times can help regulate your body's sleep cycle, making it easier to fall and stay asleep.
Create a relaxing sleeping environment: Ensure your sleep space is comfortable. Control temperature, light, and noise, and minimise disruptions such as pets or electronics before bedtime.
Exercise regularly: Activities like biking, swimming, or walking reduce stress and release endorphins, aiding relaxation. However, avoid exercising close to bedtime as it can be stimulating.
Be creative: Engage in activities like writing, drawing, or playing music to manage stress and prevent night time overthinking, helping you relax and sleep better.