1 of 13

Write now Article Tools

Insomnia: The Grand Central Station of Disorders.

It's 2:30 a.m. I knew that it would be somewhere between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m before looking at the clock. Usually, I awake slightly nearer to 2:00 but it has been as late as 4:00 a.m. I turn on the light, dig out my book and spend the next hour or so reading. The clock reads 4:10 as I make another attempt to sleep. If I'm lucky, I'll get a couple of extra hours in.

Insomnia, or the inability to sleep, is a common sleep disorder. With some people it manifests itself as extreme difficulty in obtaining sleep. The person in question may have trouble with racing thoughts, feelings of discomfort, or, in some cases, keeping their eyes closed. Others awake in the middle of the night and, no matter how tired, cannot get back to sleep. I'm one of these latter types. I've been this way for years and I'm now labeled as "chronic" which means that I will have to contend with the disorder for many years to come.

Insomnia is like the meeting hub of a number of problems. If you have joint pain, lower back disorders, or even dermatitis [itchy skin] these problems can cause you to awake and stop you from getting back to sleep. Biochemical imbalances, such as those which cause depression, may lead to insomnia. Other physical problems such as sleep apnea [a condition where the individual stops breathing] can cause sudden reactions which awaken the sleeper and allow them to experience insomnia as well. Again, to emphasize, in addition to being a sleep disorder on its own, insomnia can be triggered by other problems and might help aggravate other conditions.

My own condition stems from the fact that I have chronic depression, lower back problems, and a skin that is extremely sensitive to a host of potential irritants. What do I do about it? Well, here's what has happened so far:

1)I consulted with my doctor. She informed me that the problem was far more widespread than I might have believed. I asked if there were any medications to help me sleep and, although she said there were a number on the market, she advised against them. Sleeping aids can be very addictive and I might be simply exchanging one problem for another. She suggested some regular exercise and to watch my diet.

2)In my reading, I came to understand that worrying about insomnia actually makes the problem worse. If you suffer from insomnia, getting up, using the time, and avoiding undue concern will actually help curtail the problem. As in the case of depression, not all insomnia

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Symptoms and treatment of common sleep disorders?
We want to hear your view. Write now!