Module 1: Why Sleep Feels So Hard (And Why It’s Not Your Fault)

If you’re exhausted but still can’t switch off, this episode helps you understand why.

In this first module, we look at what’s actually happening in the teenage brain when sleep feels difficult — and why struggling to fall asleep isn’t a personal failure or a lack of effort.

You’ll hear why your body clock works differently at your age, why your brain can stay alert even when you’re tired, and how pressure, stimulation, and late nights all play a part.

There’s nothing you need to fix or change yet.

This episode is about making sense of what’s going on — so sleep feels less confusing, less frustrating, and less like something you’re “bad at”.

A calm starting point for the rest of the series.

Written and narrated by Mark Taylor - North Bedfordshire CAMHS Service - East London NHS Foundation Trust.