Running over five weeks, Understanding Insomnia and Improving Sleep is a psycho-educational course where causes of insomnia and sleep difficulties will be explored, and you will learn strategies to manage and improve your sleep quality. One of the sessions will be co-hosted by a clinical colleague from our Pharmacy department, and they will talk about commonly prescribed medication for insomnia and also discuss over the counter remedies.
Attendance can be online or in person and we can discuss your preferences with you when you enrol.
The course
Week one: Understanding sleep
- The importance of sleep and sleep cycles
- Different types of insomnia and the impact they can have
- Introduction to sleep hygiene
Week two: Identifying triggers and creating a sleep schedule
- Possible causes of insomnia
- Strategies to help create and maintain a healthy sleep routine
Week three: Stress and unhelpful thinking
- The impact that stress can have on sleep and the ways that we think
- Strategies to manage worry and rumination
Week four: Mindfulness and relaxation
- How mindfulness can help manage insomnia
- Relaxation techniques to try within the session
Week five: Managing tiredness
- Other causes of tiredness
- Skills around pacing
- Course recap
- Further helpful resources
How do I know if it is for me?
If you would like to attend, you need to be:
- Able to manage being in a group for two hours a week for five weeks
- Experiencing prolonged sleep difficulties which are having an impact on day-to-day living
Please note that our course may not be helpful if you have an underlying disorder such as PTSD, sleep apnoea, nightmare disorder, parasomnia, restless legs, severe anxiety or depression.
What should I do if I’m interested in attending?
If you would like to attend, you need to discuss it with your GP or mental health worker and they can refer you.
When we receive your referral we will offer you an enrolment appointment. This will give you an opportunity to learn more about the course and ask any questions you may have. This appointment will take approximately 30 minutes and can be over the phone or face to face.
Find out more
Our courses run at various times throughout the year. If you have any questions or would like to find out more about one of our courses you can speak to one of our facilitators by calling 0114 226 2660.