Insomnia this is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulties in falling asleep, dissatisfaction with the depth and quality of sleep, early wake-ups in the morning with the inability to fall asleep anymore.
The most common problem that patients with insomnia talk about is waking up in the morning with a feeling of weakness, drowsiness and fatigue. These people may report daytime sleepiness, fatigue, weakness, loss of memory and acumen, or inability to concentrate. A patient suffering from insomnia may experience either one of these symptoms or a combination of them.
Insomnia itself is rarely an independent disease, and is usually caused by other conditions (mental or physical disabilities). So, insomnia can be caused by a somatic illness (for example, asthma or arthritis) or a mental illness (for example, depression or anxiety disorder). The use of certain drugs, as well as substances taken for pleasure, such as alcohol and caffeine, also often disturb sleep.
It is recommended to prevent insomnia:
- Always go to bed at the same time.
- Regularly engage in physical sports, but no later than 3-4 hours before bedtime.
- Do not use caffeine at least 5 hours before bedtime.
- If you sleep during the day, your sleep should not exceed 60 minutes.
For some people, insomnia is a recurring problem that occurs almost every night and lasts for a long time. When sleep difficulties last more than a month, we can assume the presence of chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia occurs in approximately 15% of the total population. In these cases, it is obligatory to consult a specialist – psychotherapist to clarify the nature of insomnia, the causes of it and the timely appointment of proper treatment.