Insomnia

Insomnia means you regularly have problems sleeping. It usually gets better by changing your sleeping habits.

Check if you have insomnia
You have insomnia if you regularly:

• find it hard to go to sleep
  
• wake up several times during the night
  
• lie awake at night
  
• wake up early and cannot go back to sleep
  
• still feel tired after waking up
  
• find it hard to nap during the day even though you're tired
  
• feel tired and irritable during the day
  
• find it difficult to concentrate during the day because you're tired
  

If you have insomnia for a short time (less than 3 months) it's called short-term insomnia. Insomnia that lasts 3 months or longer is called long-term insomnia.

Sleep self-assessment
Do you have a sleep problem?
Most people experience problems with sleep in their life. In fact, it's thought that a third of Brits will have episodes of insomnia at some point.

What causes insomnia?
The most common causes are:

• stress, anxiety or depression
  
• noise
  
• a room that's too hot or cold
  
• uncomfortable beds
  
• alcohol, caffeine or nicotine
  
• recreational drugs like cocaine or ecstasy
  
• jet lag
  
• shift work
  

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help you change the thoughts and behaviours that keep you from sleeping.