Sleeping Well About this leaflet If you have trouble sleeping - or know someone who has - this leaflet may be helpful. It covers common problems with sleep, as well as some more unusual problems. There are some simple tips on how to sleep better, and how to decide if you need professional help. Introduction We don't usually need to think very much about sleep. It's routine. Even so, most of us sometimes just can't sleep properly. We call it insomnia. It's usually just for a short time, perhaps when we're worried or excited. When things settle down, we start sleeping properly again. If you can't sleep properly, it can be a real problem because we all need sleep to keep healthy. What happens during sleep? When you sleep, you become unconscious and unaware of what's going on around you. As you sleep, you pass through different stages - and there are two main types: Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep This comes and goes throughout the night, and makes up about one fifth of your sleep. The brain is very active, eyes move quickly from side to side and you dream. Although your brain is active, your muscles are very relaxed. Non-REM sleep Your brain is quiet, but your body moves around while you sleep. Hormones are released into the bloodstream and your body repairs itself after the wear and tear of the day. There are 3 stages of non-REM sleep: You move between REM and non-REM sleep about 5