You're lying bed staring at the ceiling. Or tossing and turning. Your mind just won't shut down. And you have a list of things to do tomorrow that's longer than your arm. How are you ever going to be at your best? Sleeping disorder just isn't fun.
What is insomnia?
Insomnia is the inability to get either enough sleep or the quality of sleep is poor. The difficulty can be in falling asleep, remaining asleep, or both. People suffering with sleeping disorders don't feel refreshed when they wake up. Sleep insomnia is a common problem affecting millions of people and often leading to irritability, exhaustion and poor concentration.
For our mental and physical well-being sleep is essential. Sleeping problems are more common in women and older adults and also people who are widowed, separated or divorced are more likely to have sleep disorders than those who are in a stable relationship. Short-term (transient) insomnia is a common occurrence and generally lasts for only a few days. Long-term (chronic) insomnia tends to last more than three weeks and increases the risk of injuries in the home, the workplace, and while driving because of daytime sleepiness and decreased concentration. Chronic insomnia can also cause mood disorders such as depression.
Causes and symptoms of insomnia / sleeping problems
Transient insomnia is often caused by a temporary situation in a person's life. This could be an argument with your loved one, a medical illness, financial concerns or jet lag for example. When the situation is resolved this condition usually goes away without requiring any treatment.
Chronic insomnia usually has many different causes, and there may be more than one. These can include:
a medical condition or its treatment (including sleep apnoea)
using stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and nicotine
mood or anxiety disorders or other psychiatric conditions
stress, for example sadness caused by the loss or death of a loved one
loss of a job
disturbed sleep caused by a change in work shift patterns
difficulty with breathing e.g. snoring
nightmares or panic attacks during sleep
When sleep patterns have been disturbed it can often lead to excessive worrying about whether or not you're going to be able to go to sleep, which creates even more anxiety and this can actually trigger insomnia. The more you worry about falling asleep, the harder it becomes.
Insomnia Treatment
So... what can you do?
If the root cause of your sleep problems is anxiety, stress or depression then one of the most successful insomnia cures is achieved through 5-6 sessions of treatment (sometimes even less!). This will allow you to permanently resolve your issues so that you can deal effectively with your insomnia. Usually this is recommended to people who have other symptoms as well.
Bring that tired body of yours over to the laptop for a chat (it's a free consultation) and we can discuss the options available to you. This can be done on either Skype, FaceTime, Messenger or Zoom. There is no obligation on either your part or mine! Call me on 0409 254 500 or email me to book an appointment.