I have just come across an interesting article on the BBC news website "My restless legs were like bees biting under my skin"
It affects up to one in 20 adults, and can cause severe sleep deprivation.
At its worst, you may survive on only a few hours' sleep at night, sometimes even less.
Restless Leg Syndrome can be caused by iron deficiency and pregnancy - and it's usually easy to treat. For most people, simply avoiding caffeine, alcohol and certain medications can be enough, and gentle exercise - stretching or leg massage can help - but for some, drugs are necessary.
It is actually very common in people who've had their sleep disrupted for many years, in that sleep is a learnt habit. The dread of the night ahead and the constant disruption of sleep can persist. Sometimes people needed sleep retraining - relearning that bed equals sleep rather than the torture of a difficult night ahead.
Listening to music or audio books (my favourite method) can help the brain to relax and bring on sleep. What you're doing essentially is you're distracting yourself. By thinking about the story or music you're listening to, you're no longer thinking about the process of going to sleep and therefore your brain switches into passive mode and then sleep happens upon you as if by accident.
For more, search the BBC news website
Happy Christmas everyone
Graham