Why does it take so long to fall asleep when you have long-term insomnia or sleep problems?

In this video, I explain how long it should realistically take to fall asleep and why expecting yourself to fall asleep instantly or within a few minutes can actually make falling asleep more difficult.

If you have struggled with difficulty falling asleep, sleep onset insomnia or other sleep problems for months or years, you may be putting more pressure on how quickly you should be able to fall asleep than you realise. Falling asleep easily doesn't need to mean falling asleep instantly or learning how to fall asleep on command.

In my sleep coaching practice, I work towards helping clients develop the Sleep Skills to consistently fall asleep within around 15 to 20 minutes. Some nights it might happen more quickly, but the goal is to have the practical skills to fall asleep easily and confidently, even after struggling with insomnia for a long time.

In this video, I also explain why clock checking and analysing how long you've been awake can make it harder to relax and transition into sleep. We look at the difference between taking 20 minutes, an hour or even several hours to fall asleep, and how identifying what helps or prevents you from falling asleep can give you a clearer understanding of your own sleep patterns.

This is the first video in a series exploring why it can take so long to fall asleep when you've been struggling with long-term insomnia or sleep problems. In the coming videos, I'll look more closely at some of the different physical, emotional and mental scenarios I regularly see in my sleep coaching practice and how you can approach them differently.

If you're struggling with chronic insomnia, sleep onset insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, an overactive mind at night or long-term sleep problems in your 40s or 50s, this series will help you look beyond general sleep tips and better understand what is happening in your particular situation.

If you're looking for insomnia help, sleep coaching or personalised support to fully overcome your long-term sleep problems, you can arrange a Sleep Assessment appointment through my website.

Beatrix

It's always best to watch the entire video, but here are some chapters for you:

00:00 Introduction to why it takes you so long to fall asleep at night

01:30 What is the expectation you set to fall asleep and what to actually aim for instead

03:08 How long should it take you to fall asleep at night?

05:25 Look at the last 14-21 days and how the length of time varies

08:31 Once you know how the length of time you fall asleep changes, it's time to learn what helps