HOW AT RISK OF INSOMNIA ARE YOU?

RESEARCH shows some people are more susceptible to insomnia than others. In fact, each of us has an ‘insomnia threshold’ beyond which we’ll have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up early.

If you have a vulnerability to insomnia, something really minor (such as the anticipation of a stressful event) could be enough to tip you over the edge.

Read the questions in the four categories below and put a tick next to all the ones that apply to you.

FAMILY HISTORY

Is there a history of insomnia in your family? Have you suffered from insomnia in the past? Are you over 60? Are you female?

PERSONALITY

Are you a perfectionist? Are you a worrier? Are you prone to anxiety? Do you live with the minimum possible time in bed so you can squeeze more into each day?

SLEEP ROUTINE

Do you have an erratic and irregular sleep schedule? Do you and your partner have different sleep habits? Do you try to catch up on lost sleep by napping or sleeping in? Do you and your bed partner have different preferences for bedtime?

CIRCUMSTANCES

Do you have a history of shift work? Do you have young children in the house? Do you have a chronic illness (psychological or physical)? Do you have a stressful job? Are you perimenopausal or menopausal?

The more ticks you give, the greater your risk of developing insomnia. You should be thinking about minimising your chances.

Follow our advice in the pullouts in the Mail all this week to make your sleep routine the best it can be.