You’re not alone if you’ve experienced the misery of struggling to get to sleep.

It’s thought that around a third of people in the UK have episodes of insomnia, defined as difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep long enough to feel refreshed the next morning.

Insomnia is more common in women and increases with age.

It’s difficult to define normal sleep as everyone’s different.

Age, lifestyle, environment and diet all play a part in influencing the amount of sleep you need.

However, the most common symptoms are:

  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Waking up during the night
  • Waking up early in the morning
  • Feeling irritable and tired and finding it difficult to function during the day.

Common causes of insomnia include stress and anxiety, but it can also be caused by conditions including depression, schizophrenia, asthma, alcohol or drug misuse, and some medicines.

Things you can do to help get to sleep include:

  • Avoiding caffeine later in the day and heavy meals late at night
  • Setting regular times to wake up
  • Using thick curtains or blinds, an eye mask and earplugs to stop you being woken up by light and noise
  • Trying relaxation techniques like taking a warm bath before going to bed or listening to calming music.

You should see your GP if your insomnia is affecting your mood and creating problems with loved ones and work colleagues.

Your GP may ask you about your sleeping routines, daily alcohol and caffeine consumption and general lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise.

Your doctor will also check your medical history for any illness or medication that may be contributing to your insomnia.

Sleeping tablets are a last resort and are often used only in the short term with the smallest possible dose.

Although they can sometimes relieve the symptoms of insomnia, it’s unlikely that sleeping tablets will help with the root cause.