Insomnia Overview
Insomnia is a frustrating condition, defined as an inability to fall or remain asleep, which affects 30 – 60% of the population. Sleep is one the most basic human necessities. When your sleep cycle gets compromised for a short while, you can make up for it, but prolonged periods of sleep deprivation, irregular or interrupted sleep can have a hugely negative impact on the quality of life. Insufficient sleep also interferes with our ability to carry out day to day activities to our full potential. This is why insomnia should not be overlooked or ignored.
Types of Insomnia
Transient Insomnia: Transient insomnia lasts up to one week and often occurs in response to stressful events in a person’s life, such as new job, upcoming deadlines, or exams. In many people it recurs each time stressful events arise.
Intermittent Insomnia: Intermittent insomnia lasts for 1 to 6 months and usually occurs when more serious and ongoing stress in present. This frequently includes extreme mental stress like injury, loss of loved ones, financial crisis, or physical factors line noises, sounds, or uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.
Chronic Insomnia: Chronic insomnia is any insomnia that lasts more than 6 months. People with chronic insomnia frequently have a lifestyle or other medical issues that contribute to their sleeplessness. This includes: chronic pain, frequent headaches, depression and other mood disorders, many medications, stimulant or alcohol use, sleep apnea, RLS (restless leg syndrome), and shift work.
Symptoms of Insomnia
People with insomnia can be irritable or show other signs of mental distress like anxiety, depression or panic attacks. Insomnia can create a feeling of excessive fatigue and the necessity to sleep during the day. Because of your sleep deprivation, it can be dangerous to drive or to do tasks that require mental focus. The side effects of insomnia are downright dangerous, so it’s important to treat your lack of sleep.
Some other signs that you may be suffering from a sleep disorder include:
- Being awake for most of the night, despite wanting and trying to sleep
- Waking up early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep
- Interrupted sleep – may be caused by an uncomfortable bed, nightmares or sleep apnoea.
- Waking up tired and feeling un-refreshed
- Struggling to complete day-to-day tasks due to lack of energy
- Reduced productivity and performance at work
- Poor concentration, indecisiveness, daytime drowsiness, irritability and agitation
Causes of Insomnia
The causes of insomnia vary, but in most cases can be treated or your behaviors can be changed. A common reason for insomnia is stress. You may be lying in bed every night worried about money, the future or your job, and that worry is keeping you awake. If you’ve suffered something life-changing like a death or job loss, the side effects of that event could be the inability to sleep. Here are some of the many other causes of insomnia:
- Eating late at night can also give you acid reflux or heartburn, which can make it uncomfortable to fall asleep.
- Existing mental health problems (e.g. depression, stress, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety)
- Certain physical health conditions (e.g. respiratory conditions, chronic pain, arthritis)
- Certain medications (e.g. steroid medication, medication for epilepsy and blood pressure, certain antidepressants)
- Inconsistent sleep routine, napping during the day
- Smoking cigarettes or consuming alcohol prior to going to bed
- Drinking too much caffeine, especially in the evening or recreational drug use
Treatment for insomnia
Happy Therapists has expertise in treating insomnia from a mental health perspective. Once a medical workup has been completed to rule out underlying medical issues, we conduct an assessment to determine factors affecting your sleep. We then provide evidence-based treatment to address these issues.
Research shows that a form of cognitive behavior therapy designed specifically to treat insomnia generates very positive results. Our experts use CBT as a means of tackling the symptoms that are associated with sleep disorders, and addressing any underlying problems. CBT is widely used in therapy which focuses on sleep disorders and works by addressing the misconceptions, attitudes and unhelpful behaviours that may be contributing to your sleep disorder, before encouraging you to view situations in healthier ways.
Our expert team at recognises that each individual experiences insomnia and sleep disorders in unique ways. As such, we are dedicated to developing bespoke programmes which enable your individual challenges to be tackled in a way that fosters the best outcomes for you.