{"id":35,"date":"2026-10-18T19:27:28","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T18:27:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourmedsuk.com\/insights\/?page_id=35"},"modified":"2026-10-18T19:27:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T18:27:28","slug":"insomnia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/yourmedsuk.com\/insights\/insomnia\/","title":{"rendered":"Insomnia"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"35\" class=\"elementor elementor-35\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fbb932c e-con e-atomic-element e-div-block-base e-default-section e-70012179-e300 \" data-id=\"6fbb932c\" data-element_type=\"e-div-block\" data-e-type=\"e-div-block\" data-interaction-id=\"6fbb932c\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b63f5a e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-32ca878e-aad4 \" data-id=\"2b63f5a\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"2b63f5a\">\n    \t\t\t<h4 data-interaction-id=\"6c5fe004\" class=\"e-5415a061-b8c9 e-heading-base e-default-h4\">Condition guide<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 data-interaction-id=\"30068c84\" class=\"e-45e5b6a5-3a7c e-heading-base e-default-h1\">Insomnia<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-511030a6-1716 e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"2279b054\">Insomnia means you regularly have trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep or feeling rested. It is called short-term when it lasts under 3 months and long-term when it lasts 3 months or more. For most people it improves by changing sleep habits.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1db0f184 e-con e-atomic-element e-div-block-base e-default-div e-4a074ca8-9e7f \" data-id=\"1db0f184\" data-element_type=\"e-div-block\" data-e-type=\"e-div-block\" data-interaction-id=\"1db0f184\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f43dad8 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-568ecbd6-b2c2 \" data-id=\"2f43dad8\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"2f43dad8\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-faeab4f e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-493c8e13-390c \" data-id=\"faeab4f\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"faeab4f\">\n    \t\t\t<h2 data-interaction-id=\"351a5ba\" class=\"e-1a342b2a-40ba e-heading-base e-default-h2\">Signs of insomnia<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-2b975488-ed47 e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"56e61712\"><ul><li>Finding it hard to fall asleep<\/li><li>Waking several times in the night or lying awake<\/li><li>Waking early and not being able to get back to sleep<\/li><li>Still feeling tired after waking<\/li><li>Feeling tired, irritable or unable to concentrate during the day<\/li><\/ul>Most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"19c17ab4\" class=\"e-1856b624-34fc e-heading-base e-default-h3\">Common causes<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"2c97a5dc\">Stress, anxiety or low mood; noise, a room that is too hot or cold, or an uncomfortable bed; alcohol, caffeine or nicotine; jet lag and shift work. Other health conditions, long-term pain and some medicines can also disturb sleep.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b64ae6e e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-1b32c70-f587 \" data-id=\"2b64ae6e\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"2b64ae6e\">\n    \t\t\t<h2 data-interaction-id=\"5276ac6\" class=\"e-62398e0a-3183 e-heading-base e-default-h2\">What can help<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-fa6e2b6-1269 e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"655449a5\"><ul><li>Go to bed only when you feel sleepy, and get up at the same time every day<\/li><li>Wind down for an hour before bed<\/li><li>Keep the bedroom dark, quiet and comfortable<\/li><li>Exercise during the day, but not in the 4 hours before bed<\/li><li>Avoid caffeine, alcohol and smoking in the 6 hours before bed<\/li><li>Avoid screens just before bed and avoid daytime naps<\/li><li>Keep to your usual wake-up time after a bad night<\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-392b3425 e-con e-atomic-element e-div-block-base e-default-section e-3bc7be1c-5059 \" data-id=\"392b3425\" data-element_type=\"e-div-block\" data-e-type=\"e-div-block\" data-interaction-id=\"392b3425\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a6b5419 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-482db7df-59d5 \" data-id=\"7a6b5419\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"7a6b5419\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1876a8c0 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-7703ab4d-e36b \" data-id=\"1876a8c0\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"1876a8c0\">\n    \t\t\t<h4 data-interaction-id=\"1e571215\" class=\"e-heading-base e-default-h4\">Treatment<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 data-interaction-id=\"6e6ca72a\" class=\"e-heading-base e-default-h2\">How insomnia is usually treated<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-35017dc2-c454 e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"25429b44\">A GP will first look for what is causing your sleep problem. The main treatment for long-term insomnia is cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), face to face or through an NHS-recommended online programme. It helps change the thoughts and habits that keep you awake, and its benefits last after treatment ends.<br><br>Prescription sleeping tablets are now used rarely, only when insomnia is severe and other treatments have not worked, and only for a few days or weeks because of side effects and the risk of dependence.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5e6686 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div ym-note e-3843fd64-8f29 \" data-id=\"d5e6686\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"d5e6686\">\n    \t\t\t<h3 data-interaction-id=\"612fa3a1\" class=\"e-7bcd2ef8-f240 e-heading-base e-default-h3\">See a GP if<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-78336c67-6596 e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"234d36d0\"><ul><li>changing your sleep habits has not helped<\/li><li>you have had trouble sleeping for months<\/li><li>poor sleep is making it hard to cope with daily life<\/li><\/ul>Do not drive if you feel sleepy.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2cec0d37 e-con e-atomic-element e-div-block-base e-default-section e-2c5f8f5b-fe36 \" data-id=\"2cec0d37\" data-element_type=\"e-div-block\" data-e-type=\"e-div-block\" data-interaction-id=\"2cec0d37\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf06a08 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-default-div e-756391bd-7c4f \" data-id=\"bf06a08\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"bf06a08\">\n    \t\t\t<h4 data-interaction-id=\"4d3a39bc\" class=\"e-heading-base e-default-h4\">Sources<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"e-5332f455-a34a e-paragraph-base e-default-p\" data-interaction-id=\"77fc236f\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/insomnia\/\" target=\"_blank\">NHS: Insomnia<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ta77\" target=\"_blank\">NICE TA77: short-term management of insomnia<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/mtg70\" target=\"_blank\">NICE MTG70: digital CBT for insomnia<\/a>. Information only; it does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Condition guide Insomnia Insomnia means you regularly have trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep or feeling rested. It is called short-term when it lasts under 3 months and long-term when it lasts 3 months or more. For most people it improves by changing sleep habits. Signs of insomnia Finding it hard to fall asleep Waking [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-35","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Insomnia: symptoms, causes, self-help and treatment | Your Meds UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What insomnia is, common causes, sleep habits that help, how CBT for insomnia works and when to see a GP. 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