Why Can’t I Just Get to Sleep?
The medical dictionary defines Insomnia as “difficulty in initiating sleep or maintaining sleep, or even both.” And it has absolutely nothing to do with the number of hours of sleep, since each individual has a different sleep pattern; some can manage with fewer hours than others.
It is difficult to pinpoint any one cause for this symptom; there can be so many. Stimulants such as alcohol, caffeine or nicotine induce wakefulness, not drowsiness. Restless legs or a partner’s snoring are other common causes. Certain medications treat other medical complications, but bring on Insomnia as a side effect—analgesics to relieve pain, over-the-counter cough and cold preparations, anxiety, schizophrenia and depression.
Some individuals just go through a “transient” phase, lasting for less than a week; others go through a “short-term” phase, lasting for one to three weeks; and yet others become victims of “chronic Insomnia” that lasts for longer than three weeks.
The reasons for the transient and short-term phases are almost similar—dwelling in mountainous regions, jet lag, inability to adjust to the room temperature (too cold or too hot), noisy surroundings, stressful thoughts, a change in shift at work, recovering from acute illness or surgery, or withdrawal from substance abuse.
Chronic Insomnia sufferers will have to probe for deeper causes. The reasons may be physiological or psychological. As far as physiological reasons go, it could be a circadian rhythm disorder or an imbalance between sleeping and waking. Painful medical conditions come in the way of restful sleep. Psychological causes are stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Clinical trials are underway to find a cure for this ailment.
Victims of sleeplessness exhibit difficulty in concentrating on tasks, inability to remember things, impaired motor coordination, irritation, and hesitancy to interact with others. And all these signs are visible in the daytime. Drivers are at greater risk, for they cause motor vehicle accidents.
While Insomnia can attack all ages, it is more common in women than in men. These individuals are at a higher risk of getting this symptom—aged people, young students, pregnant women, travelers, shift workers and menopausal women.
Dosing oneself with sleeping pills is not the answer to Insomnia. Of course, the physician may prescribe sedatives or tranquilizers or drugs used to treat severe mental illnesses, based on the underlying causes.
Doctors also advise sleep restriction. The person is made to wake up earlier than usual, to lessen the amount of sleep. This will ensure good rest on the subsequent nights. If it is a case of disturbance in circadian rhythms, they have to be re-balanced. It is good to go to bed in a relaxed frame of mind—meditate, listen to soothing music, practice relaxing techniques, or have a nightcap. Making suitable adjustments to the environment also helps. If all these techniques fail, the last resort is hospitalization. However, it is very important to follow up with the physician for a complete cure.
