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Most people have times when they sleep
badly, usually after -a change in circumstances, a different bed,
unusual noise, cold, discomfort, exams, but this is temporary and no
harm is done. Some people, however, suffer the real horror of long-term
insomnia. If you are one of these, you will know that the more
exhausted you are, the more aroused you become, too alert to sleep.
At night you may be swaying with fatigue, longing for bed, but the
moment your head hits the pillow you are wide awake, buzzing with ideas
and unable to abandon vigilance and get to sleep. The deprivation of
dreaming is known to cause irritability and sometimes depression. One
of the main causes for difficulty in getting off to sleep is anxiety,
and early-morning wakening is said to be associated with
depression, so it makes good sense to tackle the underlying problems.
But often it is just a state of over-alertness and arousal that causes
sleeplessness and this is greatly helped by relaxation.
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