Topic hub
Sleep questions
Careful answers to the questions people actually search for at 2am, without guessing at your diagnosis.
6 guides in this hub
This hub deals with experiences rather than mechanisms: lying awake, surfacing at 3am, sleeping well at the wrong hours, or simply never feeling rested.
We explain what is usually going on and how professionals distinguish between these patterns. We cannot tell you what is happening in your case — where that matters, each guide says so and points you towards a GP or pharmacist.
Difficulty sleeping and sleeping at the wrong time are different problems
Insomnia means struggling to fall or stay asleep despite the opportunity. A shifted body clock often means sleeping perfectly well, but several hours later than your working day allows.
They can look identical from the outside and they respond to different approaches, which is why the distinction is worth understanding before you change anything.
When to stop self-diagnosing
Occasional bad nights are normal. Difficulty that persists for weeks, or that affects your safety, mood or ability to work, is worth raising with a clinician.
In the UK, persistent insomnia is usually assessed with a sleep history and diary, and cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia is the first approach NICE describes before medicines are considered.
Reading path
Work out which pattern fits
Start with the symptom, then read the guide that separates the possible causes.
- 1Does melatonin help you sleep?What melatonin can and cannot do for sleep.7 min read
- 2Why do I struggle to fall asleep?The most common starting point.7 min read
- 3Why do I wake up during the night?Night waking, and when it is ordinary.6 min read
- 4Insomnia or a shifted body clock?The distinction that changes what helps.6 min read
- 5What to do when sleep problems continueWhat happens when you seek help, and how to prepare.6 min read
