Instant Genius Better Sleep: How psychology can help you beat insomnia
Jun 22, 2025
Kathryn Pinkham, founder of The Insomnia Clinic and a specialist in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), discusses the critical role of sleep for our health. She explains the importance of quality sleep versus quantity and how anxiety can disrupt it, particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kathryn shares effective CBT techniques to overcome insomnia, addresses sleep aids and rituals, and offers insights on the impact of sleep trackers, shedding light on their potential to cause more anxiety than relief.
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Understanding Insomnia Definition
- Insomnia includes difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, waking early, and impaired daytime function.
- It does not mean no sleep at all; even waking for hours at night qualifies as insomnia.
Insomnia Prevalence and COVID Impact
- Around one in three people experience insomnia, and rates seem to have increased post-COVID.
- The pandemic created a perfect storm for sleep disruption through anxiety and lifestyle changes.
Insomnia Maintained by Response to Poor Sleep
- Any event can trigger poor sleep, but continued insomnia is caused by how we respond to it.
- Over-focusing and adding pressure on sleep creates a cycle that maintains insomnia.