Insomnia or commonly called sleeplessness is the inability to get a peaceful sleep at night and often waking up at regular intervals during night. This results in an upset morning with low concentration levels and less energy to carry on the daily responsibilities throughout the day.
This disease which seldom turns chronic may be caused due to many reasons like ageing, alcoholism, depression, intense medications or too much worrying. Other factors that may cause sleeping problems are: too much sleeping during day, uncomfortable bedroom environment, working in shifts, jet lag and overactive thyroid glands.
Symptoms of Insomnia vary from person to person. At large they are:
- Dark circle under eyes
- Irritability
- Low energy levels
- Fatigue
- Disorientation
The best way to avoid Insomnia is to take proper sleep, avoid street drugs, avoid smoking and high amount of alcohol. A study conducted in United States of America suggested that people who sleep for 7 hours daily are at minimum risk of being Insomniacs while people sleeping for less than 4 hours daily are at high risk of contracting acute Insomnia which has a high mortality rate. The study concluded that avoiding alcohol during evenings and avoiding stressful conversations/situations before going to bed helps in keeping Insomnia at bay. Several meditation techniques can be employed to induce relaxation in body while lying on the bed. If meditation is not possible, other activities such as reading a book or listening to soft music are also helpful. Taking a bath before going to bed is both healthy and relaxing. Avoiding medications for any petty illness is also a good way to stay healthy and have a sound sleep as over the counter medicines usually have side effects like “hangovers”.
Are you at risk of developing Insomnia? If you are a woman, then u stand a higher chance of Insomnia because of a number of hormonal during the course of your life. Also if you are a frequent flyer and travel across different time zones, then you are at a higher risk of Insomnia. If you are addicted to drugs or alcohol, then chances of contracting Insomnia increase manifold as they only account for more than 15% of Insomnia patients. Internet addiction is the newest phenomenon that is causing Insomnia among the youths as it keeps them awake during nights.
Normally Insomnia is curable but sometimes it grows beyond our control. There are two approaches to tackle Insomnia. First one is to employ non-pharmacological technique and the second one is to use hypnotic methods. Generally first method is preferred as the body gets used to the hypnotic drugs after a period of time rendering the method useless and also withdrawal symptoms may occur if the drugs are discontinued.
Non-pharmacological treatment provides long lasting relief and it involves undergoing relaxation therapy, sleep restriction therapy, stimulus control therapy and cognitive behavior therapy. Studies all across the globe have shown that with the right kind of treatment Insomnia can be controlled, if not cured completely.