Chronic Pain and Sleep: Why Pain Keeps You Awake (and What Helps)

The Sleep Matters TeamBlog

Chronic Pain and Sleep

Today we explore answers to questions like “why does pain keep me awake?” and “can poor sleep make pain worse?” Indeed, pain and sleep are closely linked.

Chronic pain (also known as persistent pain) is typically defined as pain that persists beyond the usual healing time, often longer than 3 months. Today, it affects more than 3.5 million people in Australia, or approximately 1 in 5 adults. Chronic pain significantly impairs daily functioning, the ability to work, social relationships, and overall quality of life (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2020). In addition, many people with chronic pain also experience sleep problems which results in them being at higher risk of developing insomnia, or other mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression.

Tired but wired at night? Why you feel exhausted but can’t sleep

Melissa ReeBlog, insomnia, insomnia treatment, sleep tips

“Why am I so tired but can’t sleep?” Many people search for answers to this frustrating problem. You feel exhausted by the end of the day, yet when you go to bed, your mind becomes active and your body feels alert. This experience, often described as “tired but wired,” is one of the most common patterns we see in insomnia. …

Sleep Restriction Therapy for Insomnia: Why it feels hard and how it works

Melissa ReeBlog

“Sleep restriction therapy for insomnia didn’t work for me.” This is a common sentement we hear from people seeking help for insomnia. Often, it is said with frustration, disappointment, or self-doubt, especially after someone has genuinely tried to follow the rules and found the experience exhausting or unsustainable. Importantly, current research suggests that this experience is not unusual, and it …

Introducing Our comprehensive sleep health Assessment: A holistic way to understand and Improve your sleep

Melissa ReeBlog, insomnia, sleep disorder

More than a sleep study – a roadmap to better sleep Poor sleep is more than just feeling tired—it can affect your mood, energy, performance, and overall well-being. In fact, research shows that over 30% of Australian adults experience poor sleep health. If you’ve been struggling with sleep, suspect a sleep disorder like insomnia or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or …

Insomnia and physical health

Melissa Reeinsomnia, Blog

insomnia and physical health

Here, we look at the relationship between insomnia and physical health outcomes, the mechanisms at play, and the importance of addressing sleep-related worries.

Would you like to participate in Insomnia treatment research?

Melissa ReeBlog

As Perth’s first behavioural sleep medicine clinic, Sleep Matters is dedicated to helping people overcome sleep difficulties and improve their overall health and wellbeing. We believe that research plays a crucial role in advancing understanding of sleep disorders and finding effective treatments for sleep-related issues. Our current studies are in collaboration with The University of Western Australia and Compumedics Ltd. …

The connection between insomnia and mental health

Melissa Reeinsomnia, Blog

Key takeaways Insomnia, a common sleep disorder characterised by difficulty falling or staying asleep, is intricately linked to mental health conditions. The research of Dr Melissa Ree, Clinical Psychologist at Sleep Matters in Perth, examines the profound impact of insomnia on mental health outcomes and the effectiveness of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy-Insomnia (CBT-I) in addressing these challenges. Let’s explore the complex …

Why clinic research matters: Advancing understanding and improving care

Melissa ReeBlog

As Perth’s first behavioural sleep medicine clinic, Sleep Matters is dedicated to helping people overcome sleep difficulties and improve their overall health and wellbeing. We believe that research plays a crucial role in advancing understanding of sleep disorders and finding effective treatments for sleep-related issues. Sleep Matters Director, Dr Melissa Ree trains and supervises the Sleep Matters team as well …

Answers to 5 of your most common questions about sleep

Melissa ReeBlog, sleep facts, sleep tips, sleep tips, teen sleep

Sleep health is important. We understand that everyone needs at least reasonable sleep to function happily and healthily. Yet sleep itself can be somewhat mysterious and misunderstood. The Sleep Matters team have advanced training in the management of sleep difficulties and we wanted to clarify some sleep facts and bust some common myths. So here are the answers to 5 …

Is it time to get help for your trouble sleeping?

Melissa ReeBlog, insomnia, insomnia treatment, sleep facts

                                                                                                               Pri Mithal, BSc. (Hons), MPsych (Clin)                                                                                                Clinical Psychologist Registrar “Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.” — Thomas Dekker Ahh…sleep…zzzzz. Some of us love it, and others dread it. Here we debunk a few sleep myths, consider what healthy sleep is and when to seek help for trouble sleeping. So, what exactly is sleep …

Evening exercise and sleep: should we be changing our advice?

Melissa ReeBlog, insomnia, insomnia treatment, sleep tips, sleep tips

Many of us are interested in improving our health and wellbeing. Sleep is a great way to do this was we know that sleep is the third pillar of health alongside physical activity and nutrition. A very common piece of advice for improving sleep is to avoid moderate-vigorous exercise before bedtime. Many official ‘Sleep Hygiene’ Guidelines suggest no exercise after …