What is Insomnia?
Insomnia refers to experiencing unsatisfactory levels of sleep on a regular
basis. It refers to issues in the quantity or quality of sleep or both.
Symptoms of insomnia manifest in the following ways:
-
Difficulties in falling asleep (Sleep Onset Insomnia)
-
Difficulties in remaining asleep (Sleep Maintenance Insomnia)
- Early morning wakening (Late Insomnia)
- Not feeling refreshed after sleeping
A common complaint of people suffering from insomnia is that they have immense
difficulty falling asleep. Thus, a person may go to bed and find themselves
lying awake or tossing and turning. In contrast, some insomniacs have trouble
staying asleep and may wake up immediately at the slightest environmental
change or disturbance. Insomnia may also include poor quality of sleep. This
involves feeling lethargic, tired, or tense, even after sleeping for a few
hours. Usually, a combination of these complaints is presented by patients.
The subjective or objective limits of what is considered normal sleep duration
are not the primary methods of diagnosing insomnia. This is because many
people tend to be short-sleepers and feel completely comfortable with their
schedule. While there are others who sleep for durations of up to six to seven
hours but, suffer immensely due to the poor quality of their sleep. It is also
important to know that sleep difficulties persist despite adequate
opportunities for sleeping.
In addition, individuals exhibiting symptoms of insomnia also report feeling
different concerns at bedtime. For example, they may feel anxious, worried, or
irritable. Preoccupation with sleeplessness is also prominent and can further
interfere with establishing a normal sleep pattern. Due to the disturbed
elements of sleep, individuals may then find themselves feeling mentally and
physically tired in the morning.
These issues in sleep characteristics cause significant distress in daily
life. Daytime impairments include difficulties with memory, concentration, and
attention. Daytime sleepiness is also common. Mood disturbances like
irritability and depressive symptoms are also experienced sometimes.
Persistent complaints of insomnia are also related to maladaptive sleep
routines and habits such as daytime napping, staying in bed for long periods,
etc. Alternate ways of inducing sleep are also tried by some people such as
drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. These don’t prove to be beneficial
and cause more disturbances to the sleep cycle.
Although the onset of insomnia can occur at any time or age, it is more
prevalent in middle age and older adults. The first episode of insomnia
commonly occurs during young adulthood. Insomnia can also be one of the
concerns associated with menopause.
Assessment and Treatment Of Insomnia
Sleep-related issues including insomnia can be reported to professionals
including general physicians, psychiatrists, and clinical psychologists. An
in-depth history related to the patient’s health is elicited. A thorough
assessment of sleep patterns is also conducted. A common example of assessment
of sleep patterns is the use of sleep diaries to document bedtime routines,
wake-up times, and other associated trends that are further evaluated.
Treatment options for insomnia include:
-
Pharmacological Treatments: Insomnia is often treated with medications that
may assist in achieving sleep However, these medications are prescribed only
by trained medical professionals under discretion.
-
Psychotherapeutic Approaches: Specific approaches for insomnia have been
developed.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
for insomnia (CBTi) is one example. This therapy aims at developing better
sleep habits including maintaining a bedtime routine, the bedroom
environment, maintaining a sleep habit diary, etc. It also addresses
thoughts and emotional factors that underlie poor sleep patterns. For
example, worrying about the effects of not having enough sleep can keep a
person awake till very late and continue to affect their sleep cycle.
Sleep hygiene is
an important element associated with the treatment of insomnia and is
commonly suggested.
Insomnia can cause disturbances in maintaining quality of life and affect
overall health. Thus, consulting a professional such as an
online psychologist about symptoms
is very important to receive timely interventions.