Insomnia is described as having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Categorized as short-term or transient (less than three weeks) or chronic (longer than three weeks) insomnia may wreak havoc physically and emotionally on those suffering from it. While all ages of both men and women suffer from bouts of occasional insomnia, it affects mostly the elderly. Insomnia itself is not considered a condition or disease, but a symptom on underlying causes that may be physical, mental or environmental in nature. Learning identify symptoms of insomnia may help to prevent complications and to seek treatment before aspects of daily life are affected.
Instructions
1. Take note of any difficulty sleeping that occur over any period of time. While we all have trouble sleeping once in a while, insomnia that occurs more than one or two times a week should be addressed and discussed with your health care provider in order to determine underlying causes.
2. Pay attention to the number of times you wake during the night. This wakefulness may occur shortly after falling asleep and may last for several hours. This inability to sleep also prompts frustration and agitation, which only worsens symptoms.
3. Waking suddenly with frightening memories or thoughts is another common indication of insomnia. Such frightening thoughts may linger for hours, increasing difficulty in falling back to sleep.
4. Watch for signs of ongoing fatigue and tiredness during the week. Chronic insomnia may eventually lead to lack of ambition, confusion and memory loss. Sleep deprivation may also cause mood swings and affect interactions with friends and loved ones.
5. Examine your physical condition and health, paying attention to any signs of illness or injury. Do you suffer from arthritis or other conditions that may cause chronic pain or discomfort? Do you live in an area where noise keeps you awake at night? Take stock of your bedtime habits and surroundings as well and try to determine what it is that is keeping you from falling asleep, and staying asleep.
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