It's 2am and it's been over three hours since you went to bed. But here it is: impossible to close your eyes. Like nearly 20% of French people, you may suffer from insomnia.

But how to fight against this sleep disorder?

Good or bad reflexes, what to do (or not) to go back to sleep? We take stock.

Insomnia, what is it?

"Insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, waking up at night with problems getting back to sleep or early awakenings," explains Anthony Dubroc, Ph.D. and creator of MySommeil.

Specialists distinguish two types of insomnia: the occasional, created by a "stress of daily life" (appointments, maintenance, control, etc.) and chronic insomnia, much more serious, more difficult to treat and which requires consulting a specialist.

According to recent studies, 1 in 4 French people suffer from this type of sleep disorder.

There are solutions ranging from meditation to medical treatment in the clinic, to fight these troubles that ruin life.

Some techniques to go back to sleep ...

It is first advised to get up and not to wait for sleep in bed.

"The important thing is not to cling to your bed, it is important to realize that it is normal to wake up at night too," says Aurélie Meyer-Mazel, clinical psychologist and sleep specialist.

If we can, we avoid looking at the time: it creates a kind of dependence and frustration. Finally, to relax, we try to relax with breathing exercises.

It is also advisable to sleep in a room in order and in which the temperature is not too high. You must also eat enough at dinner. Because diet has a real effect on our sleep cycles. We also cut the stress topics: no reading pro mail before bedtime for example.

Backlit screens are avoided as far as possible: no tablet, computer or phone because the light blocks the secretion of melatonin, a sleep hormone.

Does the technique of counting sheep work? Not really ! It is rather advisable to think of soothing scenes. So except if the sheep soothe us, it is useless.