A sleep disorder called insomnia is characterized by problems falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting enough restful sleep. Because it stops people from getting the required amount of sleep, it can produce a variety of daily symptoms and functional limitations.
If waking up at 3am continues to be a persistent problem and significantly affects your daily life, consider consulting a healthcare professional or a sleep specialist. They can help identify the underlying causes and provide appropriate treatment or recommendations to improve your nap quality.
Describe insomnia.
People who experience insomnia struggle to get to nap or stay asleep. The majority of Australians have insomnia at some point in their lives, and one in ten of them currently suffer from at least mild insomnia. Older persons and women are more likely to experience it.
Insomnia may result from:
Having trouble falling asleep
Having problems falling back to sleep after waking up during the night
Going to bed too early
People occasionally go through all three.
For a brief period of time, some people experience insomnia, for instance when they are anxious or agitated. However, certain cases of insomnia are chronic (also known as chronic insomnia disorder), which causes daytime impairment and difficulty getting or staying asleep for at least three months.
What signs of insomnia are there?
Insomnia affects everyone differently. The following are a few signs of insomnia:
Having trouble getting to nap
Waking up frequently at night
Being unable to fall back asleep after waking up too early
Having no energy when you wake up
The following daytime signs of insomnia include:
- Stress headaches
- Being too sleepy or fatigued to do daily tasks
- Weak focus and memory
- Being concerned about nap
- Feeling grumpy or depressed
- Being impulsive, hostile, or hyperactive
- Loosing motivation to do things
- Less drive and motivation
- When seated quietly, feeling sleepy
What causes sleeplessness?
Sometimes insomnia has no underlying reason. We refer to this as primary insomnia.
A general health issue, an anxiety or mood disease, or a sleep disorder may be the underlying cause in some cases. We refer to this as secondary insomnia.
It’s important to note that while there is a connection between sleep disorders and ED, not everyone with a sleep disorder will experience ED, and not everyone with ED has a sleep disorder. Additionally, there can be other underlying medical conditions or psychological factors contributing to ED.
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These factors may aggravate insomnia:
Sleep hygiene issues: bad sleep patterns
Chemicals such as alcohol, amphetamines, caffeine, nicotine, and some prescription drugs
Stress brought on by monetary or practical difficulties, interpersonal conflicts, or loss
Health ailments, especially those that cause discomfort, hormonal changes (such as hot flashes and night sweats during menopause), and respiratory, urinary, or intestinal issues
Insomnia can be a sign of anxiety, despair, and other mental health issues.
Obstructive sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorders brought on by irregular sleep patterns, restless legs syndrome, and periodic limb movement disorders are examples of sleep disorders.
Age group sleeplessness is more common in the elderly
People who work different shifts frequently do not get as much sleep as those who work throughout the day during established hours.
When should I visit my physician?
If you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, feeling restless in bed, snoring loudly, or not feeling rested when you get up, it is a good idea to consult your doctor. You can document your symptoms and share them with your doctor by keeping a sleep diary.
Your doctor might recommend that you contact a sleep specialist or psychologist if they believe you have insomnia.