Some links on this page have been colour coded to make it easier to find the information you need:
Before considering any self-referral for local sleep support it is worth reading the section below on “frequently asked questions”.
From Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies
A face-to-face cognitive behavioural therapy course Insomnia support – NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies
From Big Health
This is presently not available for many Buckinghamshire postcodes but that may change. It is available to a number of practices in Buckinghamshire that have a Slough postcode and other practices may be included so it is worth checking.
A popular and effective online sleep improvement program produced by Professor Colin Espie. Big Health | Helping millions back to good mental health
From the Sleep charity
“Who do I talk to if I can’t sleep?”
The National Sleep Helpline can help with your sleep problems. National Sleep Helpline – The Sleep Charity
Do you have a sleep problem?
Insomnia: general advice, including some dos and don’ts. Insomnia – NHS
From NHS Better Health
Sleep problems. This includes tips, a mind plan and a video. Sleep problems – Every Mind Matters – NHS
From the NHS
Sleep and tiredness: overview Sleep and tiredness – NHS
Includes
From the NHS
Other problems with sleep
From Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Have produced multiple mental health self-help leaflets, of relevance here is the helpful leaflet on “Sleeping problems”. Self Help Leaflets – Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
From the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Sleeping well Sleeping well | Royal College of Psychiatrists
From Patient info
Insomnia: includes general advice and a video on poor sleep and some discussion on medication. Insomnia (Poor Sleep) | How to sleep better | Causes & Treatment | Patient
From NICE
Have produced guidance for doctors on insomnia Insomnia | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE and sleep disorders including shift work and jet lag Sleep disorders – shift work and jet lag | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE
From the Sleep charity
“The Sleep Charity produces a wide range of evidence-based information on all aspects of sleep from triggers to treatments.” Information for children, teenagers and adults
Information & Support Information & Support – The Sleep Charity
The following websites are based in the USA and though some of the information such as on services and drugs recommended may differ from the UK, the general health information will be similar.
From the Sleep Foundation
There are multiple articles on sleep health and sleep disorders Sleep Foundation | Better Sleep for a Better You
including on improving your sleep such as
From the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Patient information Patient Information | Sleep | American Academy of Sleep Medicine
This includes the AASM’s Sleep Education website which provides patient education information.
From the Sleep charity
“The Sleep Charity produces a wide range of excellent evidence-based information on all aspects of sleep from triggers to treatments.” Information for children, teenagers and adults
Information & Support Information & Support – The Sleep Charity
This includes
From the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Sleep problems in childhood and adolescence: for parents and carers Sleep problems in childhood and adolescence – for parents and carers | Royal College of Psychiatrists
From the NHS
From Mencap
Useful guidance for children with a learning disability who are having trouble sleeping.
Sleeping tips Sleeping tips | Mencap
Stress, anxiety or depression can on occasions be a cause of sleep problems. Though much of the sleep advice has been covered in the frequently asked questions already covered, here there is a greater focus on how sleep can relate to mental health and what steps can be taken.
From the NHS: Better Health Every Mind Matters
Sleep problems Sleep problems – Every Mind Matters – NHS
From Mind
How does sleep relate to mental health? Sleep and mental health – Mind
From Young Minds
Sleep problems Sleep Problems | Mental Health Support | YoungMinds
Tiredness is a very common reason to see a GP
As NHS Wales suggests
“Before you see a GP, you may want to work out how you became tired in the first place. It can be helpful to think about:
A GP will look at the following causes of tiredness:
The NHS website summarises some common causes of tiredness and fatigue
Psychological and lifestyle causes are often the cause of tiredness
As NICE (National institute of clinical excellence) suggest from various medical studies “fatigue is often associated with psychosocial stress, and may be caused by depression.” [Assessment | Diagnosis | Tiredness/fatigue in adults | CKS | NICE)]. In fact, one paper suggests: “About every fifth patient complaining of tiredness to the GP (general practitioner) suffers from a depressive disorder. A history targeted at mental health and psycho-social well-being is therefore of great importance.” The differential diagnosis of tiredness: a systematic review (Stadje, R. (2016)) The differential diagnosis of tiredness: a systematic review )
Physical causes of tiredness though important to exclude are not the commonest causes of tiredness
Reassuringly it has been suggested in some papers that serious physical causes are not common ((Stadje, R. (2016))The differential diagnosis of tiredness: a systematic review
“Our review shows that anaemia, malignancies and other serious somatic diseases are only very rarely found in fatigued primary care patients. Their prevalence rates hardly differ from non-fatigued patients.”
However, as Patient info suggest
Though “Most physical causes of tiredness will cause other symptoms. Some causes of tiredness (such as anaemia and hypothyroidism) may not cause any other symptoms apart from tiredness.” so you may need blood tests if your tiredness is not improving.
“You should definitely see a doctor if you feel tired and have lost weight without trying to. Also see a doctor if you have other symptoms as well as being tired, such as coughing up blood, a change in the way your guts are working, heavy periods or a lump somewhere it shouldn’t be.”
“Tiredness (Fatigue).” Patient info website. Retrieved 8th January 2024
From Patient info
Tiredness (Fatigue). Tiredness (Fatigue) | Exhaustion | Causes, Tests & Treatment | Patient
Despite physical causes not been common a GP will explore physical causes often including with blood tests
Some physical causes are already known to the patient (e.g., a long-term condition such as heart failure, COPD, and diabetes) but some physical conditions are new. Physical causes are explored in the following articles:
From the NHS
Physical causes for tiredness Why am I tired all the time? – NHS
From Patient info and NICE
Tiredness (Fatigue)
This is well covered in the article below from Patient info which follows on from the question on “Why am I tired all the time”:
From Patient info
Tiredness (Fatigue) Tiredness (Fatigue) | Exhaustion | Causes, Tests & Treatment | Patient
From the NHS
Self-help tips to fight tiredness Self-help tips to fight tiredness – NHS
On the videos and podcasts page there are links to some relevant videos and podcasts covering the topic of sleep (physical wellbeing).