Bad sleep isn’t always a cortisol thing

If you regularly find yourself staring at the ceiling at 3am, you've probably gone looking for answers. And according to social media, there's usually one popular explanation:

“It's your cortisol.”

But waking during the night isn't automatically a cortisol problem. Sleep disruption can have many different causes - and understanding the bigger picture matters.

For women in particular, these can include:

• Hormonal changes - During perimenopause, fluctuating and changing oestrogen and progesterone levels can affect sleep and contribute to night-time waking.

• Night sweats and hot flushes - Even if you don't fully wake up feeling hot, temperature changes during the night can disrupt your sleep.

• Anxiety and stress - A busy mind, chronic stress or anxiety can make it harder to stay asleep - or make it difficult to fall back asleep once you wake.

• Alcohol - Whilst alcohol can make you feel sleepy initially, it can disrupt sleep later in the night.

• Blood sugar and diet - For some people, eating patterns and blood sugar regulation may play a role in how they feel overnight and the quality of their sleep.

• Your sleep environment - Temperature, light, noise - and yes, sometimes your partner- can all make a difference too.

There isn't always one simple explanation for disrupted sleep. Understanding your symptoms, your lifestyle and your wider health picture is far more useful than trying to diagnose yourself from one Instagram Reel.