Most of us have tried-and-tested ways of getting to sleep – sipping a calming herbal tea, relaxing in a bubble bath or swapping our smartphone for a book before we hit the sheets. But for those who still can’t get the zzzzzzz they need, a new type of therapy – cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-i) – may be the answer.
Nearly half of the UK population has trouble getting to sleep at least once a month*. Not only is difficulty sleeping frustrating and exhausting, but it can have an impact on mental and physical health, too. One US study** showed 40% of insomniacs had a mental illness, compared with 16.4% of those with no sleep complaints. Further research from the University of Arizona also linked chronic insomnia with high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
Treatments often include herbal remedies, such as melatonin and valerian root, and a trip to your GP might see you
