Teach Yourself to Sleep: An ex-insomniac's guide

Description

PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR QUALITY SLEEP 'In her brilliant new book Mikhail delivers accessible science to help you take back control of your bedtime and your sleep' Psychologies Are you suffering from chronic insomnia, an erratic sleep pattern or do you simply feel that your sleep isn't as deep and restorative as it should be? Then struggle no more. Teach Yourself to Sleep is the new, sustainable solution that you have been waiting for. After decades of trying traditional methods to cure her poor sleep, the chance reading of a book by her great-great uncle, a pioneer in cognitive therapy and clinical hypnosis, led chronic insomniac Kate Mikhail to research the science of sleep and the mind-body loop, and develop the tried-and-tested methods that have finally enabled her to take control of her sleep and wake up feeling rested and energised. In Teach Yourself to Sleep, Kate shares her approach, blending first-person experience with accessible sleep science and interviews with leading doctors, scientists and academics, as well as highly effective sleep 'scripts' provided exclusively for this book by sleep experts. Teach Yourself to Sleep will help you to view sleep in a wider, deeper context by revealing that its quality is inseparably woven into the way you spend your day - not an add-on that comes out of nowhere as night descends. Considering sleep from every angle - from the role of biology-based self-talk in reinforcing better sleep habits, to fixing your sleep-wake cycle through the right balance of light and darkness, and when, what and how to eat for the best sleep possible - this book will help you to understand your sleep better and give you the tools to take control and finally begin to get the sleep you need.

Kate Mikhail is a London-based freelance journalist and editor, who has written a wide range of features and reviews for the Guardian, Observer, Telegraph and Independent newspapers, as well as for many other publications. After decades of not being able to get to sleep easily at night, a chance reading of a book by her great-great uncle Richard Waters, a pioneer in cognitive therapy and clinical hypnosis in the 20th century, led to the discovery that she was officially a chronic insomniac. A love of research, science and a fascination in the mind-body loop, drove Kate to find scientific answers for why sleep can be such a problem for so many people in the 21st century, and what can be done to put this right. Kate is now an ex-chronic insomniac, thanks to researching her first book, Teach Yourself to Sleep, in which she explores the biology and science of sleep and how to look at sleep from a different perspective to improve the quality of sleep, health and wellbeing.

If you want an example of how one person's struggle can go on to help so many others, this book is it. Kate Mikhail's writing is a wonderful combination of personal experience and investigation into the science, knowledge and practice that will help readers navigate their way out of insomnia and towards getting a gorgeous night's sleep. If you or those you love are having difficulty sleeping, curl up with this book before bed and give yourself the gift of a sleep * Kirsty Macdonald, Cognitive Hypnotherapist and Transformational Leadership Coach * A very well written, informative, extremely interesting and enlightening book, presenting the theory behind sleep and wakefulness from different angles. It's a must-read book that provides solutions and advice to deal with sleep disorders using a holistic approach, by focusing on sleep hygiene and functioning of the body with respect to the circadian rhythm, as well as guiding us to follow a healthy lifestyle leading to increased productivity, good health and happiness * Dr Syed Shariq Hasan MBBS, MPH, MCPS, FRSPH, PhD Specialist in Public Health and Psychosomatic Medicine, Post-doctoral research fellow and Honorary Lecturer, Department of Hypnotherapy and Gastroenterology, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. * Sleep problems are one of the scourges that seem to have resulted from our modern, hectic and often stressful lives. Like so many modern afflictions there is no single cause and no 'one size fits all' remedy. Consequently, it is important for the sufferer to understand the problem better so that they can learn how best to manage it for themselves. This book by Kate Mikhail is a nice easy read which should help people to cope with this problem which can ruin the lives of the those who battle against it night after night. * Peter Whorwell, Professor of Medicine & Gastroenterology, University of Manchester *