The DC Metro Therapy Blog
When you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or trauma, sleep problems often come with the territory. But here’s what many people don’t realize: poor sleep doesn’t just accompany mental health challenges, it can actually make them worse. Your therapist routinely asks about mood, relationships, stress levels, and coping strategies. These are
If you live with chronic pain, you may have said something like this before:“I can feel a storm coming because my pain flares.” Many people notice that their pain seems to intensify as temperatures drop. Joints ache more. Muscles feel tighter. Fatigue sets in earlier. It can feel as if
If you’re lying awake at 2 a.m., exhausted but wired, wondering why can’t I sleep after the holidays, you’re not alone. Every January, we hear the same concern in therapy sessions at DC Metro Therapy:“I was sleeping fine before December, and now my body feels completely off.” Between family stress,
As the year winds down, many of us start reflecting on what we’ve been carrying, both physically and emotionally. Maybe it’s the shoulder tension that never quite goes away. Maybe it’s the sleep you keep meaning to fix. Or maybe it’s the fatigue that always seems to show up during
The holidays are supposed to be about connection. But when you’re living with chronic pain, they become a masterclass in pretending you’re okay when really, you’re struggling. Chances are you know this script by heart: the dismissive comments (‘you look fine!’), the pressure to participate fully, the guilt when you
What if your therapist told you that spending less time in bed could help your depression? It might sound counterintuitive, especially when exhaustion already feels crushing. But for many people struggling with both insomnia and depression, it’s true. When depression and insomnia coexist, long nights of lying awake become fertile
Do family gatherings make you feel anxious? You’re at a get-together, heart racing, palms sweating. A well-meaning family member notices and says, “Just relax! It’s Thanksgiving!” Instantly, you feel worse. Now you’re anxious and ashamed that you can’t just “snap out of it.” “Just relax” might be the most common
Another night, another nightmare. You’re exhausted, but you dread going to bed because you never know if tonight will bring another dream that jolts you awake—heart racing, sheets damp, afraid to fall back asleep. While everyone else sleeps, you’re stuck in a loop that leaves you tired, tense, and wondering
It’s 5 PM on a Tuesday in October and you can barely keep your eyes open. By 10 PM, when you finally crawl into bed, you’re wide awake. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many people struggle with sleep when the seasons shift. As a therapist who specializes in