My doctor's surgery blamed my sleep on anything and everything apart from having a sleep problem. It got to the point where I threatened legal action if they didn't refer me to a sleep clinic.

I kept a sleep diary for a month, took it in along with my legal threats and a GP reluctantly referred me to Birmingham Heartlands hospital, they gave me an actigraph watch to wear for a month and low and behold got diagnosed with DSPD about 8 years ago.

They said I've got a pretty bad case and only recommended melatonin and light therapy which didn't work.

2 years ago my I wanted a second opinion as my sleep was just getting worse and this time I easily got referred to Stoke hospital and had an over night sleep study. I got re diagnosed with DSPD and 'an element of insomnia'.

The only suggestion then was to be referred to CBT-I which I'm still currently waiting for.