Sleep

About this topic

Sleep trouble is rarely just one thing. It can be a mind that will not switch off at night, a 3am waking that turns into hours, eight hours in bed that still leave you flat, or a body clock that runs late and never quite matches the morning. For some people it arrived with a particular season of stress; for others it has been the pattern for as long as they can remember.

The pages below are written for people trying to make sense of what is happening with their sleep. They are general information, not a clinical assessment. If you would like to talk to one of us, you can start with a Meet and Greet.

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Answers

1. Is this insomnia, or just a bad patch?
2. How much sleep do I actually need?
3. Why can I not fall asleep, even when I am exhausted?
4. Why do I wake at 3am and cannot get back to sleep?
5. I sleep 8 hours and still wake up tired: what is going on?
6. Does poor sleep cause depression and anxiety, or the other way around?
7. Does alcohol actually help me sleep?
8. What is CBT-I, and why is sleep hygiene not enough?
9. Are ADHDers actually night owls?
10. Why did my sleep change in my 40s and 50s?

Guides

• Why we sleep, and what actually happens when you are asleep
• When the bed means everything except sleep
• The day is where sleep is made
• When the body is tired but the mind will not switch off
• Why a consistent wake time matters more than a consistent bedtime
• Sleep that fits the life you actually have

Worksheets

• Sleep Diary
• Day Time Audit
• Wake Time Anchor
• Night Wind Down

More reading on related topics

• Sleep Hygiene
• Circadian Rhythm
• Nervous system
• Evidence-based
• Psychology explainer