The Silent Struggle: Insomnia and How to Overcome It
With everyone stuck in the rat race, a good night's sleep is often hard to find. For some watching the sunrise after not sleeping for hours has become much more of a common occurrence than viewing it after getting up. This 'midnight tormentor' torments millions all over the world irrespective of age or class, disrupting work-life balance as well as bodily functions. In this blog, we will deep dive into the world of insomnia
Understanding Insomnia
Insomnia is more than just a few sleepless nights. If you face emotional repercussions as an effect of your lack of sleep then you are suffering from insomnia. Insomnia affects roughly 10% of the world's population. It is not deadly though it does have a big impact on your physical and mental well-being.
Types of Insomania
There are two main categories of insomnia:
Acute Insomnia: This is short-term and usually happens on its own due to some particularly stressful or life-changing event. As you overcome those issues, the insomnia also fades away.
Chronic Insomnia: You might develop this disorder as a symptom of another illness, drugs, and other circumstances. This kind of insomnia may last for three months or longer, ruining at least three nights each week.
Common Causes of Insomnia
There are numerous factors that can lead to insomnia, including:
Stress: An unwelcomed guest that can be very hard to avoid at some point in life and is one of the primary reasons for insomnia since it can result in anxious thoughts and an overactive mind, affecting the ability to sleep.
Anxiety and Gloom: Emotional conditions like anxiety and despair, can interfere with sleep cycles.
Unhealthy Sleep Habits: Your sleep habits can also lead to insomnia. There are many reasons that could lead to a bad sleeping routine: traveling, working from home, heavy use of electronics before bed, or enjoying or boosting yourself with coffee or alcohol close to bedtime.
Medical Conditions If you are suffering from some form of illness then it can also affect your sleep. Medical conditions could include chronic pain, asthma, or Parkinson's disease which can even lead to chronic insomnia.
Medications Sometimes the drugs that you consume to get better, particularly those with stimulant effects, can interfere with sleep.
The Effects of Insomnia
The effects of insomnia are followed up throughout the day affecting your daily activities and making it harder for you to keep up with life. These effects include:
- Feeling like your body has been run over by a truck(tired and unwell).
- Mood disorders, anxiety, irritability, and depression.
- The attention span of a goldfish as well as delayed responses
- Reduced productivity, and finding it difficult to remember things.
How to Overcome Insomnia
You can defeat insomnia by following a number of ways and bringing certain changes to your lifestyle and health. You can follow the tips below to get rid of this menace:
- Maintaining a consistent sleeping schedule. You can consider writing in a journal regarding when you sleep, and for how many hours you sleep to keep track of yourself.
- Avoiding certain foods like coffee before sleep.
- Supplements and medications that help to fall asleep.
- Using essential oils before bedtime can also work wonders in calming your mind.
- Exercising regularly is a must to ensure good stress-free sleep. This could include yoga, meditation, or practicing a sport that you prefer.
- Take fewer naps. From none to at max a 20-30 minutes nap, if necessary.
- Leave your phone alone! The light of electronic devices can make your brain think that it is not nighttime and hence disrupt your sleep.
If the insomnia persists or the struggle has turned into a full-blown war, consult a medical professional as they are the best person to guide you through the possible treatments.
As the song 'Let Her Go' implies you only realize the importance of something when it is missing or gone. Similarly, many people fail to understand the worth of sleep and take it for granted. Lack of sleep can have a huge effect on your overall health. So, if you have trouble sleeping, don't take it lightly and work on the issue as soon as possible. After all, sleeping is the best medicine next to laughter.
