Stress, Sleep Problems and Exhaustion – What We Are Observing More and More in Our Practice

A personal contribution by Freshta Modjib, founder of the practice House of Rouh in Zurich – about stress, sleep problems and mental health in everyday life.

I repeatedly see how many people continue to function in their daily lives – at work, within their families, and in their responsibilities – while internally they are already deeply exhausted.

Many people come to our practice because they struggle with persistent stress, sleep problems, or increasing exhaustion. Often, they have tried to cope with these challenges on their own for a long time.

At Practice House of Rouh in Zurich, we are consciously taking new paths in how stress, sleep problems and mental exhaustion are addressed. For this reason, we have developed three structured programs designed to help people sustainably regain stability and inner calm.

When Stress and Mental Strain Become Part of Everyday Life

Over the past years, I have repeatedly made the same observation – in conversations with individuals, with professionals from medicine and therapy, but also within my own environment.

Many people keep functioning. From the outside, everything appears stable: work, family, responsibilities, daily life.

Yet internally, the reality often looks very different. People sleep poorly. They feel constantly exhausted. Their thoughts keep circling without pause. The body remains tense even when they long to rest.

Many of these symptoms arise when prolonged stress keeps the nervous system in a constant state of activation. And yet, only a few people speak openly about it.

Not necessarily because people want to suppress the issue. Often, something deeper lies behind it. Many of us have learned to carry burdens silently. We do not talk about them. We do not want to burden others. Or we simply cannot find the right words for what is happening inside us.

And sometimes shame plays a role. Sometimes cultural influences. Sometimes it is simply the habit of continuing – even when the body has long been signaling that something has fallen out of balance.

For this very reason, it is important to me that we as a society develop a more open way of speaking about mental health.

A Structured Path Out of Stress, Sleep Problems and Exhaustion

Together with our interdisciplinary team, we developed three programs that build on each other and address different stages of mental and physical strain.

These programs grew out of many conversations with people who came to us – and from the experience of our therapists.

Rather than focusing on individual therapeutic methods, the programs are designed around what people actually need in different phases of stress and exhaustion.

Stress Reset – When the Nervous System Remains Under Constant Tension

This program is designed for people who notice that their system remains in a constant state of tension. Typical signs include:

• inner restlessness

• irritability

• persistent racing thoughts

• difficulty switching off

• increasing exhaustion

At this stage, the goal is to regulate the nervous system and restore initial stability.

Sleep Regeneration – Support for Stress-Related Sleep Problems

Sleep is one of the most sensitive indicators of mental overload.

When thoughts no longer settle at night or sleep becomes shallow and fragmented, the entire organism can fall out of balance.

This program is designed for people whose sleep difficulties have developed due to stress, overwhelm or prolonged tension.

Burnout Intervention – Stabilization in Phases of Prolonged Exhaustion

Many patients come to us after having lived under high levels of strain for an extended period.

They still manage to function in their everyday lives – but only with great effort.

In this program, the focus is no longer just short-term relief, but sustainable stabilization of:

• energy

• sleep

• the nervous system

• mental resilience

Why This Topic Matters to Me Personally

As the founder of Practice House of Rouh, I meet people every day with very different life realities: entrepreneurs, executives, parents, professionals in demanding careers, as well as young adults and students.

Many of them have tried for a long time to manage everything on their own. Only when sleep, energy or concentration noticeably decline do they begin to consider seeking support.

I hope that as a society we can speak more openly about how strongly mental strain can affect our everyday lives.

Because it does not affect only the individual.

It influences:

• how present we are with our families

• how patiently we respond to our children

• how clearly we make decisions at work

• how connected we feel to the people around us

Mental health is not a luxury. It is a foundation for a functioning life.

Perhaps these programs can contribute in a small way to making mental health a more natural part of our conversations in the future – among friends, within families, and also in the workplace.

Because no one should feel that they have to face these challenges alone.

Author: Freshta Modjib, Founder and Managing Director, House of Rouh Practice, Zurich