Therapist explains disturbing reason why some people can't sleep without background noise

Sleeping is something we all do every single day. Although, it's safe to say that some of us get a better night's rest than others.

Getting a good rest is not as easy as you might think, with one NHS doctor telling LADbible why you end up still feeling knackered despite thinking you're doing everything right.

From drinking too much booze the night before to sleeping too little or too much, there's a whole load of reasons why you might be feeling shoddy the morning after.

One thing many people use if they're struggling to sleep is background noise.

Whether that be the television on low volume, the buzzing of a fan cooling the room down, music playing, or even white noise, some people say things would be a lot worse if they didn't give in to the stimulant while they try and drop off to the land of nod.

But those who need this every time they go to sleep may be doing this for a reason they don't quite realise themselves, and it is one rooted in their own psychology and brain.

Over on TikTok, one mental health account revealed what their therapist said to them over why some people sleep with noise in the background.

Sleeping with background noises is a must for some (Getty Stock Image)

Under the username DCLAnxiety, they said: "Not being able to fall asleep without background noise is extremely common with many mental health issues.

"It's a trauma response to abandonment issues. The noise tricks your brain into thinking you aren’t falling asleep alone."

Some agreed, with one person commenting: "Yes I feel alone even though my husband sleeps next to me."

Juulia Karlstedt, a counsellor who specialises in anxiety and perfectionism, told HuffPost similar, saying: "Effectively, we fill our attentional capacity to the max with other stimuli in an attempt to have no resources left for the things we are trying to avoid.

"The minute the distraction stops, the unpleasant emotions and thoughts normally spring up again in full force."

Background noise could be a sign of you suppressing your emotions (Getty Stock Image)

So while it might not be abandonment, a similar could be in play in that you're avoiding major issues you don't want to address.

It obviously isn't the same for everyone, though, with one person replying: "As someone with abandonment issues, I hate noises while I sleep cos when I was abandoned i got scared and got paranoia, now every little noise haunts."

A second said: "I enjoy listening to background noise to fall asleep, reading, gaming, etc. I don't have abandonment issues. I enjoy being a home body."

And a third responded: "Or it’s because I grew up with 6 siblings so going to sleep in 100 percent silence is abnormal for me."

It you do use background noise as a way to hide from your emotions at night, Karlstedt urged you to address the 'unpleasant thoughts' as they can 'reinforce the anxiety' that is fuelling them.