It’s not just new parents and night shift workers who may feel sleep deprived. For many, suffering with poor sleep or insomnia can be a hidden and debilitating struggle. And a link has now been found between sleep issues and mental health.

Poor sleep can affect an individual in many ways: difficulty getting to sleep, early waking, nightmares and problems staying asleep as examples.

A new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health used a cross-sectional of 89,205 participants from the UK Biobank. The study demonstrates that people diagnosed with mental health conditions often have worse sleep quality and also that poor sleep can impact mental health. It’s not yet clear if one causes the other and if so, which one comes first so to speak. An interesting observation of the study found that sleep deprivation increases inflammation in the body, and inflammation is connected to stress.

Check out this article from the UK Therapy Guide for more observations on the study, including some tips for practicing good ‘sleep hygiene’ as recommended by the researchers in the study.

If you would like to book an appointment with a Rainbow counsellor, please send us a message with a brief explanation of your situation and we will recommend a counsellor to meet your needs.​

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and describes a condition which affects behaviour. Sufferers can be restless and struggle to focus or concentrate.

ADHD is often diagnosed in childhood, but more recently cases of adults being diagnosed have been known.

The symptoms of ADHD can be distressing, especially if you haven’t yet been diagnosed. It’s common to experience secondary mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety as a result of this.

The causes of ADHD aren’t fully known but it is known to be affected by brain chemistry and likely genetics too. It’s important to get support as a sufferer and treatment can include medication and/or therapy for children and adults.

Check out this article by the Mental Health Foundation to find out more about ADHD. And as always don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Rainbow for support – perhaps you are a sufferer or you may be affected by ADHD in another way e.g. as a parent or friend of a sufferer. It’s important to know you are supported too!

We stumbled across this great article at the Counselling Directory and thought it was worth sharing as it describes panic attacks so well, including what happens in the brain.

Many people suffer from panic attacks, and the experience can be more intense than generalised anxiety, the article describes them as an ‘explosion of anxiety’. Most attacks last between 5 and 20 minutes, though they can go on for longer.

It’s important to note that some symptoms of panic attacks can be similar to those such as a heart attack so it’s important to get help and seek appropriate medical advice.

Various tips and techniques are included for things that may help. These include relaxation, breathing techniques and carrying around something that might help to calm, focus and ground you when a panic attack arises.

For more info visit the Counselling Directory article >

Please contact Rainbow Counselling to access further support.

BACP member Michelle Seabrook explores how the unrelenting uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and its impact on workplace pressures has led to high levels of burnout amongst workers.

In the article Michelle looks at how this ‘recipe’ for stress has been escalated by remote working, sometimes increased workloads and no sense of when it will end. She argues that stress can often be coped with better when it has a defined end-point. The pandemic has impacted the whole of our lives, not just our work, but that this in turn is something that can impact our ability to cope with work, be that in a paid role or as a student or homemaker.

Check out the article here for a further exploration of the topic.

Please contact Rainbow Counselling to access further support.

With a view to supporting the mental health of older people Age UK have put together a guide to counselling, particularly aimed at older people.

We think it includes very helpful content including videos such as the one above. No matter your age your mental health is very important. Find out more from Age Concern’s article >

Please feel free to contact Rainbow today if this is something that may be affecting you.

Continuing with the theme of nature and wellbeing we explore a series of vlogs and blogs from BACP members on how being outdoors can support our mental health.

As a chilly May gives way to a sunny June, and as lockdown restrictions begin to lift, now is a great time to get outdoors.

Check out this link to some fantastic articles and videos on topics ranging from being around plants, the power of being in the garden, movement and nature to keeping in sync with the changing seasons.

Remember that Rainbow counsellors are still right here to help during these challenging times. Contact us >