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Why sleep can be a real nightmare

This week on , Katie Thistleton and Dr Radha will be discussing the importance of sleep and how getting enough is important for your mental health.

If you're one of those "Oh I can just close my eyes and sleep anywhere" people then congratulations to you, but this one isn't for you.

Sleep is important to rest our minds and bodies, so when we don't get enough it can have a serious impact on our energy levels, mood and ultimately, our mental health.

Here's a beginners guide to sleep problems and insomnia, plus some advice on how you can sleep better and the celebrities who are struggling as much as you to get a good night's sleep.

What is insomnia?

Everyone will have a sleepless night from time to time but for some people it is more serious and a lot more frequent. Some people will find it hard to get to sleep, others will wake up a lot during the night or perhaps wake up early and not be able to get back to sleep.

Insomnia can be caused by a range of things, such as stress, stimulants (including alcohol, caffeine and nicotine), noise outside your bedroom or having a room that is too hot or cold.

Radio 1's Dr Radha explains why we all need to get some sleep

"There are lots of reasons why we sometimes find sleeping difficult that range from having an irregular bed time routine to low mood or anxiety," says Dr Radha, who presents The Surgery on Radio 1 alongside Katie Thistleton.

"Sleep is absolutely vital for our physical and mental well being - it's a time when our bodies and brains rest and maintain themselves.

"So make sure you make it a priority in your life because it's an essential part of how you feel.

"Not only is it important to get enough sleep (most of us need at least 8 hours sleep) but also to get good quality sleep."

BTW, you're not the only one lying awake all night worrying

Sleep problems can be a very lonely and frustrating experience but it's very common. So the next time you're tossing and turning at 4am in the morning, try and remember than some of the biggest stars in the world are more than likely doing the same.

Lady Gaga: "I haven't slept for three days"

Lady Gaga is a sufferer of insomnia and blames having a creative mind on why she struggles to sleep at night.

"I lie in bed and try to pray and breathe," she told OK magazine.

"I have a very overactive mind. I'm the sort of person who'd never take medication to calm myself. It's maddening."

"My passion is so strong I can't sleep - I haven't slept for three days."

Justin Bieber: "I turn over all night and think"

Many people, including Justin Bieber, struggle to switch their brain off at night and lie awake with a million thoughts running through their mind when they're trying to sleep.

"I just turn over all night and think," he told Vanity Fair in 2011.

"My mind races. I think about all the things I didn't have time to think about during the day - like family and God and things that should be more important."

Demi Lovato: "I still learn how to cope with it"

Demi Lovato has spoken bravely about her struggles with mental health and addiction in the past. Her sleep was also affected when she was at her lowest point.

"I didn’t really realize I was sick," she said in MTV's 2012 documentary Demi Lovato: Stay Strong.

"I thought that staying up until 5:30 in the morning is normal.

"Last night, I stayed up until five in the morning. I just couldn’t sleep.

"My mind was racing and it’s an ongoing thing and I still learn how to cope with it."

Florence Welch: "My body keeps me on overdrive"

It's not just being unable to sleep that's a problem. Sometimes, what happens when you do nod off is just as stressful.

"I have [nightmares] when I'm tired or stressed, or over-tired," Florence told the Irish Independent earlier in 2017.

"My body just keeps me on overdrive. I'm just dreaming loads.

"I can't quite sleep in a dark room by myself, because I'm always imagining something creeping in the dark corner, or looking through the window."

5 things we all need to stop doing before we go to bed

Here are five things we all do, but which Radha says we need to quit ASAP if we want any chance of getting a good night's sleep.

1. Looking at electronic devices and having them in your bedroom.
Experts think that the blue light emitted from electronic devices disrupts the sleep hormone melatonin, making our sleep poorer.

2. Going to bed at different times
Your brain needs a routine so it can prepare itself for rest. Trying to get to bed at roughly the same time every night helps you settle down to get a good night's sleep

3. Sending texts, social media messages or emails just before bed, and keeping your phone on.
People are going to respond and it's just too tempting to look and carry on that conversation into the early hours of the morning. It also makes your brain think about things that are going to keep you awake.

4. Think about the worries of the day or think about tomorrow.
Worry, stress and anxiety can cause poor sleep. So try to get your worries out of your head by writing them down, talking to someone well before bedtime, doing something relaxing in the evening or going for a walk early evening so you help your mind settle. Put school books out of sight and work elsewhere at home so your bedroom is a place of peace and tranquility.

5. Doing anything stimulating for your mind or body - like listening to loud music or doing vigorous exercise - just before bed.
Exercise earlier in the day or evening is great to help good sleep long term and really helps insomnia, but anything vigorous or late at night doesn't.

Listen to The Surgery on Radio 1 on Wednesday at 9pm

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