ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the cognitive arousal, or ‘busy mind’, that so often interferes with sleep. Strategies for managing cognitive arousal include cognitive therapy techniques and relaxation exercises. The chapter suggests that, the therapist works to maintain hopefulness for change, but is also realistic about what changes may be achievable when forming goals with clients. Clients sometimes report distressing experiences that interfere with arousal and night-time sleep. When we are anxious about falling asleep, we naturally tend to check the time to see how long we have been lying awake and how much time there is left to sleep. Becoming aware of the thoughts and managing them make a valuable way to help address clock watching, low mood, anxiety, unwanted intrusive thoughts, and hallucinations in the night. Most people assume that the events in their everyday lives directly cause their feelings.
