Insomnia
Most people have trouble with their sleep at some point. If you regularly have trouble sleeping, this is called insomnia.
Insomnia can mean that you:
- struggle to fall asleep
- wake up multiple times during the night
- lie awake at night
- wake up early and cannot fall asleep again
- feel tired during the day
There are lots of things that can contribute to sleep problems and insomnia, such as stress, depression, anxiety, pregnancy, health problems, side effects of medications, alcohol, caffeine, recreational drugs, noise and discomfort.
You can usually improve your sleep by changing your sleep habits, for example:
- going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, even if you slept badly the night before
- staying away from screens such as TV and mobile phones for at least an hour before bed
- making sure your bedroom is suitable for sleeping in (dark and quiet)
- not eating a big meal before bed
The NHS advises that if you have been feeling constantly tired for over 4 weeks or if you have had trouble sleeping for several months, you should speak to your GP.
For more information on insomnia and sleep problems, see: