The Nightmare Of Sleepless Nights
The Nightmare of Sleepless Nights
Insomnia can be an affliction. The less we sleep, the more anxious we can become. The more anxious we become, the less we sleep. It’s all down to the question – what keeps us up at night? Disrupted sleep can be quite common the night before an important event. But when we find ourselves struggling to sleep over an extended period of time (at least 3 nights per week for at least 3 months), we need to act.
What causes insomnia?
Insomnia is commonly a side effect of stress, anxiety or depression. A life experience such as a deep loss or trauma can play havoc with our emotions. A chronic condition that causes pain or persistent discomfort can also prevent us from getting proper sleep. Shift workers, or people who work remotely in different time zones, can find their circadian rhythm (their natural body clock) interrupted. Invariably, poor sleep hygiene can also be contributing to your sleeplessness at night. By sleep hygiene we mean all the things we can do during the day and before bedtime to ensure we put ourselves in the best possible position to sleep well. You can read more on sleep hygiene here.
What happens to people with insomnia?
Not managing Chronic insomnia can potentially have catastrophic consequences. If we are in a perpetual state of exhaustion, our mental alertness will become compromised, impacting our work capacity and productivity. Our emotions can be fraught and we might readily say or do things that are out of character. Indeed, sleeplessness at night goes hand-in-hand with many mental health disorders or conditions. Lack of sleep impairs our better judgement, so that we may make more risky decisions. We are also at an increased risk for accidents. Perhaps less appreciated, however, is the effect on our physical health. Chronic insomnia affects our immune system, making us more susceptible to infection. Interestingly enough, we often notice that, when we are sick, all we want to do is sleep, which is our bodies’ way of forcing rest and recovery.
How can insomnia be managed?
Most of us know intuitively why we’re not sleeping. We might be worried about a family member, or concerned about a relationship. We could be going through financial hardship, facing work challenges or a personal crisis. Emotionally, we need to confront and acknowledge the cause of our insomnia in order to begin the process of managing our insomnia. Importantly, we should also consider contributing sleep hygiene factors like drinking caffeine and alcohol, smoking or engaging in an unhealthy, self-comforting diet. In these instances, dealing with the underlying cause of our insomnia is key.
In the case of chronic insomnia, however, the original trigger is often long-gone, and it is the insomnia itself, together with the fear of sleep and being permanently sleep-deprived that drives and reinforces the insomnia problem. At this point, we should consult a medical professional if we cannot reset our sleep routine. The best treatment for chronic insomnia is CBT-I (cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia). CBT-I addresses the thoughts and behaviours that prevent you from sleeping well and helps you to learn new strategies to sleep better.
Find your dream sleep at Dial•a•Bed.
If you feel like you have matchsticks in your eyes, perhaps it’s time to visit Dial•a•Bed. Nothing entices you to enjoy a deep, restorative sleep like a new mattress that is perfectly suited to your sleep preference. Get precisely the level of comfort and support you need from South Africa’s largest branded bedding retailer. Find the full range and your nearest store here. If you suffer from sleeplessness at night, or think you might have insomnia, don’t let things drift. Get in touch with a sleep scientist at www.sleepscience.co.za and get expert advice on how to get back to healthy sleep again.
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