107: Sleep Science Today with Andrew Colsky - Episode 107107: Sleep Science Today with Andrew Colsky - Episode 107
UK Health Radio Podcast
Host Andrew Kolsky and therapist Veronica Yazigi talk through a lifetime of sleep problems, from childhood insomnia and sleepwalking to adult sleep apnoea and chronic fatigue. They discuss CPAP challenges, the limits of sleeping pills and how CBT-I and behavioural changes can shift long-standing insomnia.
45:06•27 Oct 2026
Sleep Anxiety, CPAP Struggles and CBT-I with Andrew Kolsky and Veronica Yazigi
Episode Overview
- Insomnia often starts early in life and can be misread as laziness or poor character rather than a genuine sleep disorder.
- Circadian rhythm differences (being a natural night owl) can clash with school and work schedules, leading to chronic sleep loss.
- Obstructive sleep apnoea can affect women who do not fit the stereotypical profile, and home tests may miss it, so further assessment can be crucial.
- Adapting to CPAP usually takes time, experimentation with different masks and gradual practice rather than giving up after a few nights.
- Trying harder to sleep and relying solely on pills can keep insomnia going, whereas CBT-I focuses on changing unhelpful habits and anxious thoughts about sleep.
“The harder you try to sleep, the more you are not going to sleep. The more you stop trying to sleep, the more you will sleep.”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery’s sleepless nights? This episode of UK Health Radio’s Sleep Science Today zooms in on insomnia and sleep disorders with host Andrew Kolsky and guest Veronica Yazigi, a licensed professional counsellor who practises CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia). You’ll hear Veronica’s long history with troubled sleep, from childhood sleepwalking in high-rise flats in Rio to waking up in full fight‑or‑flight mode as an adult.
Her story shows how easy it is to be mislabelled as “lazy” or “spoiled” when poor sleep and a misaligned body clock are actually to blame. As she puts it, “Because society’s clock was so different than my internal clock, we were not aligning.” The conversation takes a practical look at obstructive sleep apnoea, especially in women who don’t fit the stereotypical profile. Veronica explains how her home sleep test missed apnoea, while an in‑lab study finally caught it.
Andrew stresses that, “Don’t make assumptions about, well, only these types of people get sleep apnoea because that’s not true,” highlighting why proper assessment matters if you’re living with fatigue, brain fog and night-time awakenings. They also unpack the love–hate relationship many people have with CPAP machines.
Veronica jokes about her “fashion show” of masks and admits, “It was not love at first breath with me and PAP,” before sharing practical tips on gradual desensitisation, mask options and being your own advocate. Insomnia gets a no‑nonsense treatment too. They talk about how trying harder to sleep backfires, why “sleep effort” and constant worry keep the brain wired, and how CBT-I tackles both habits and anxious thoughts around bedtime.
Andrew challenges the idea of “trying to sleep” and compares it to a Chinese finger trap: the more you struggle, the more stuck you get. If you’ve ever lain awake thinking you’re broken, this honest chat might prompt you to ask a better question: what if your sleep problem is actually changeable?
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