By Elise Skinner, Clinical Psychologist Sleep is often framed as a personal habit — something we should optimise if only we were more organised or less stressed. Yet for many women, sleep difficulties are not a failure of effort. They reflect the interaction of biology, hormonal transitions, caregiving roles, and social expectations that quietly deprioritise women’s rest. For a long time, women’s sleep has received less attention in research, similar to many areas of women’s health. Earlier sleep studies often focused on males and assumed the findings would apply to everyone, while the hormonal changes and life stages women experience were seen as too complex to study. As women’s health has become a higher priority, research has begun to better

Most people go through periods when life feels heavier than usual. Work pressure, relationship changes, health concerns, or ongoing uncertainty can make even small tasks feel harder. When this happens, it’s natural to wonder whether what you’re experiencing is simply a rough patch or whether therapy might actually help. There isn’t a clear dividing line between the two. However, research on stress and mental health can offer some useful guidance.   When things usually pass on their own A rough patch often has a clear starting point. It might be linked to a busy period at work, a difficult conversation, financial stress, or a sudden change in routine. In many cases, emotional discomfort begins to ease as circumstances stabilise. Research