Kim Cattrall Begins Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

By MiNDFOOD

Kim Cattrall Begins Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
When Kim Cattrall pulled out of her headline stage role in Linda at London’s Royal Court Theatre due to a “mystery illness”, she sent tongue wagging as what the cause could be.

She has since revealed that it was chronic and debilitating insomnia that stopped her in her tracks. In an interview with BBC Radio, Cattrall described her insomnia as “like being pinned down by a three-ton gorilla.” She also shared part of her diary entry from her stay in London in which she wrote, “I think I’m losing the ability to think clearly. Words are harder to remember without sleep. I can’t grasp, hold on, to ideas, thoughts, even tasks. They’re slipping away from me since I got here and I can’t sleep… Without sleep, there is no way to wash away the debris that collects throughout any given day, no way to clear and cleanse the thoughts that bracket morning through night.”

The cast of the former HBO television series Sex and the City (L-R) Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis 

The 63-year-old British-Canadian actress, best known for her role as Samantha Jones on Sex and the City, attributed her insomnia to jetlag, too much tea, another stage of menopause and anxiety. As treatment Cattrall began cognitive behavioural therapy to retrain her brain and body to sleep. She stopped napping during the day and started pre-sleep rituals. Electronic devices and clocks were also removed from the bedroom.

According to Better Health Victoria, insomnia is a symptom, not a disease. It means being concerned with how much you sleep or how well you sleep. The concept of ‘a good sleep’ differs widely from person to person. While the average night’s sleep for an adult is around eight hours, some people only need five, while others like up to 10 hours or more. Over one-third of people experience insomnia from time to time, but only around five per cent need treatment for the condition. Reducing anxiety and sticking to a day-night routine can improve sleep quality and help relieve short term anxiety. Insomnia that has persisted for years needs professional support.

 

Expert Dr Mary Grogan shares her basic Cognitive Behaviour Therapy tools to avoid diet traps and revitalise your exercise and meal habits. 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Print Recipe

BECOME A MiNDFOOD SUBSCRIBER TODAY

Let us keep you up to date with our weekly MiNDFOOD e-newsletters which include the weekly menu plan, health and news updates or tempt your taste buds with the MiNDFOOD Daily Recipe. 

Member Login