Reviewed by Jilles

There are many reasons why people have problems with sleep. A few books have been written about it, but none are as empathic and as effective as Overcoming Insomnia and Sleep Problems. It is almost as if Colin A. Espie has insomnia himself and knows exactly what it is like to struggle with this issue. And that is one of the problems with this problem, people around you don’t really know what it is like to have a problem with this, because it is such a natural thing you don’t have to do anything for. Just sleep. If only…

It is a known fact that approximately 5 % of the population has trouble sleeping and about 25 % is sleep-deprived. This is the cause of many other health risk factors, amongst them cancer.

The good thing about this book is that it doe not just dish out facts.  It is written as an eight-week course in creating a better sleep pattern and sleep behavior through Cognitive Behavioral Techniques. Every chapter tackles a certain part of the problem and then gives you one week to make a change in your behavior or your sleeping conditions. By keeping a sleeping journal you keep track of everything that you are doing and changing; you keep track of the hours you sleep, and lo and behold, improvement is on the way. Sometimes it is only your perception about your sleep that is part of the solution. Even if you are on medication, this book can still help you improve your sleep.

So if you are one of the many who tosses and turns every night, know that there is improvement to be found in this book that does more than tell you what you already know.  It helps you change what needs to be changed. Sweet dreams.