Every night, about a third of adults have problems falling or staying asleep that aren't related to a persistent sleep disorder.

As they lie in bed, many are caught in the classic paradox of insomnia: wanting sleep so badly that they can't get it.

For doctors, insomnia presents a chicken or egg problem.

Is sleeplessness a result of another condition such as depression, or is the insomnia the root of the other problem?

One report by the US National Institute of Mental Health found that depression rates were 40 times higher for patients with insomnia than those without sleep problems.

Mental health experts increasingly view depression or anxiety as an effect, rather than a cause, of insomnia.

Taking care of insomnia may therefore calm other aspects of a patient's life.

In the same way, sleep becomes more elusive as a person's sleep needs become more urgent.

This problem compounds itself each night, leading to a state of chronic insomnia.

The classic form has no known cause, yet is widespread. About one in 10 people in the US suffer from it during their lifetime.

There is no medical test that proves whether someone is suffering from a temporary bout of sleepless nights or a more serious disorder.

When insomnia starts to interfere with the routines of normal life, many people turn to pharmaceuticals.

Medicines that help someone fall asleep, stay asleep, or be comfortable in between accounted for $30bn (£18.5bn) in 2010 in the US alone, which is more than what people around the world spend each year going to the movies.

There has to be another way to treat this condition, and here at Forget Insomnia we will offer you a variety of alternatives to sleeping tablets and explore safe and healthy ways to get that good nights sleep you deserve.