If you thought insomnia only refers to a complete lack of sleep, check again.

 

Mayo Clinic defines Insomnia as a “common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep.”

 

If you feel tired even after waking up, or you are not getting restful sleep of at least 6 hours a day, you may be suffering from insomnia. It can have a huge impact on your quality of life.

 

The telltale signs of insomnia include –

 

* trouble falling asleep

* waking up repeatedly during the night

* waking up too early

* feeling tired in the morning

* daytime sleepiness

* mood swings

* difficulty with focus and attention

* memory issues

* worry about falling or staying asleep

Causes of Insomnia

1.    Stress

Worrying about school, work, finances, or personal and professional relationships can keep you awake at night, making it hard to fall asleep. Big changes, loss and trauma can also disrupt sleep patterns.

 

2.    Travel

Frequent change in time zones and jet lag can alter your natural circadian rhythm and disrupt your sleep-wake cycle.

 

3.    Lifestyle

Working long hours, excessive screen time, consuming too much caffeine, irregular sleep and wake times, or unusual work shifts can lead to sleep disturbances.

 

4.    Poor Sleep Hygiene

Having an irregular evening routine, inconsistent daily routineand sleeping in a space not prepared for sleep cannegatively affect sleep.

 

5.    Health Issues

Some medical conditions, such as heart disease, chronic pain and diabetes, may lead to lack of sleep. Mental health issues, such as anxiety, can also impact sleep.

 

6.    Medications

Many medications, both OTC and prescription, may interfere with sleep, for example, opioids, antidepressants, and decongestants.

 

7.    Aging

The duration and quality of sleep can change with age. Seniors may experience difficulty falling and staying asleep. Aging-related changes, hormonal changes, medications, activity levels, can all worsen lack of restful sleep.

 

If you or a loved one is experiencing any sleep-related issues, schedule a consultation with Dr. George Akinkuoye at Sleep Solution Hub. As a mental health professional specializing in sleep, he uses his extensive knowledge and experience in sleep medicine to provide you tools and resources to achieve a better quality of life through better sleep. call 508-720-4995 or write to medicalcompsych@gmail.com

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