Why do some people struggle with sleep, while others sleep well?
- Sophie Bostock, PhD
- Mar 19, 2021
- 1 min read
In this video I explain one model to explain how insomnia develops.
We all start with some sort of predisposition, which makes some people more vulnerable to sleep problems than others, but this on its own is rarely enough. It's usually a precipitating factor, or trigger, which tips us over the edge.
Many sleep problems are temporary - we recover after the stress passes, or when we adapt to our new situation. The things which make insomnia stick around are often behaviours and thoughts - which might be a reaction to poor sleep.
To solve this cycle, we need to tackle the thoughts and behaviours which perpetuate insomnia. The approach with the best evidence is CBT for Insomnia.
To learn more about that, please subscribe - most of the Sleep Toolkit posts share tactics and strategies from CBT for Insomnia.
This video is based on the '3Ps' model proposed by Art Spielman and colleagues in 1987.
This is part of a series of 5 videos I wrote for the team at Bensons for Beds for World Sleep Day 2021 - you will find the other 4 videos on their Instagram site @bensonsforbedshq
People struggle with sleep differently because insomnia is not caused by a single Trees Hate You factor. It develops through a combination of vulnerability, triggering events, and—most importantly—learned behaviors and thought patterns that maintain the problem. Those who sleep well either don’t experience strong triggers, or they don’t fall into the cycle of habits that reinforce poor sleep.
I find this explanation really insightful because it clearly shows how sleep problems aren’t just about one cause but a combination of factors that build over time. I like how it emphasizes the role of our thoughts and behaviors in maintaining insomnia, which makes me reflect on my own habits. Even when I’m unwinding with something like EaglerCraft Game, I realize how important it is for me to manage my routines and mindset so I don’t fall into unhealthy patterns. I think focusing on approaches like CBT for insomnia is a smart and practical way to break that cycle.
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