Dealing with insomnia
Do you experience difficulty falling asleep at night or difficulty paying attention or focusing, waking up during the night or waking up too early. Do you feel like you did not get enough sleep immediately you wake up in the morning, well, all of these symptoms may indicate you are experiencing a condition known as insomnia. Insomnia is manifestation of poor mental health that many people take for granted. Insomnia can trigger significant mental distress such as irritability, anxiety, poor concentration, aggression, depression and increased errors.
According to WebMD, an American corporation known primarily as an online publisher of news and information pertaining to human health and well-being, insomnia is a sleep disorder in which you have trouble falling and/or staying asleep. Insomnia can be short term or long term. One should take insomnia very seriously and seek treatment when it happens at least three times a week for three months or more. The paradox of insomnia is that it can be a symptom and trigger for severe mental health illnesses, because poor sleep causes the brain functioning to deteriorate.
Insomnia can be caused by some underlying factors that include:
Stress and Anxiety: this could be as a result of a stressful event, problems at work or financial difficulties.
Lifestyle Factors: Drinking alcohol before going to bed and taking certain recreational drugs can affect your sleep, as can stimulants such as nicotine (found in cigarettes) and caffeine (found in tea, coffee and energy drinks). These should be avoided in the evenings. Changes to your sleeping patterns can also contribute to insomnia – for example, because of shift work or changing time zones after a long-haul flight (jet lag).
Mental health conditions: Underlying mental health problems such as mood disorders – depression or bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, panic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder, psychotic disorders – schizophrenia.
Physical health conditions: such as heart conditions – angina or heart failure, respiratory conditions – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma, neurological conditions – Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, hormonal problems – such as an overactive thyroid, joint or muscle problems – such as arthritis, sleep disorders – such as snoring and sleep apnoea, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, night terrors and sleepwalking, long-term pain.
In women, childbirth can sometimes lead to insomnia.
Source: NHS inform
It is recommended to see a psychologist if you are experiencing insomnia but there are self help tips;
- Make changes to your bed time habits.
- Maintain good sleeping habits such as creating a relaxing bed time routine, going to bed only when you feel tired, avoiding eating heavy meals late at night, avoiding caffeine, nicotine and alcohol late at night
- Do not actively use your phone at your sleeping hours, even if you do not feel sleepy yet, take your phone a way.
- Contact Arogi Trauma Care and speak to our certified therapist to understand the underlying factors and learn ways to self-induce sleep without sleeping pills.
Visit a medical practitioner for sleeping pills if the condition is severe or as directed by the Therapist.
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