Can’t sleep? Right now, there are many reasons why you may be tossing and turning at night. While we are seeing some signs of returning to normalcy, the pandemic is still wreaking havoc on schedules.
Even if it’s not because of the pandemic, sleep problems are common. A full night’s sleep just doesn’t seem to come for many people, and this can lead to mental problems and fatigue.
The average person needs around 7-9 hours of sleep each night, but needs vary. In this post, we will look at some sleep disorders that may give you some insight into your lack of Zs.
Insomnia
This is the first, and most common sleep disorder. It simply describes the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep despite wanting to.
Sleep-onset insomnia is when you close your eyes during bedtime, but sleep never comes. With sleep maintenance insomnia, you have trouble staying asleep. You may wake up after five hours of sleep and not be able to fall back asleep to get those last three.
There’s also mixed insomnia, when you have both.
Sometimes, insomnia is short-term. We’ve all had those sleepless nights on occasion, be it because of life or because of no reason at all. However, chronic insomnia can develop, which means that you can’t sleep well for three days a week for three months.
Treatment can vary. Some people may have their insomnia disappear after changing up their habits. Cutting back on the caffeine, looking at your phone less before bed, taking a hot bath before you sleep… this can all relax you and prepare you for a restful night’s sleep.
Lifestyle changes can also help. Getting more sunlight is one way to treat your insomnia. Another way is to get some exercise. This can help you fall asleep faster when all is said and done.
In some cases, you may need to see a doctor. They may give you some medicine to help you have a better night’s rest. Seeing a therapist can help as well.
Sometimes, you may have a sleep-wake disorder. This is when your biological clock, or circadian rhythm, is off. Traveling long distances or having an inconsistent sleep schedule can lead to this. Meltatonin supplements or going to bed at the same time every night can help.
Breathing Disorders
Sometimes, you may get a full night’s sleep but still feel off.
This may be due to a breathing disorder. When this happens, you start breathing irregularly. You may snore loud, or wake up in the middle of the night due to breathing issues. You may have had eight hours of sleep, but it was eight hours of poor sleep. Breathing disorders are treatable.
If left untreated, it can lead to long-term health issues, so seek treatment as soon as possible.
Movement Disorders
Movement disorders are when you cannot sleep due to odd movements. For example, restless leg syndrome or teeth grinding.
These disorders are usually treatable. If untreated, they can make it difficult to fall asleep. You may feel pins and needles in your legs, keeping you up at night.
Parasomnia
This is a collection of sleep disorders. It can refer to disorders such as sleepwalking, night terrors, sleep paralysis, or other disorders.
These disorders can affect you in many different ways. With sleepwalking, you have no idea that you were doing that, and it can make you feel unrested.
With sleep paralysis, you can feel like you are unable to move when you’re waking up. This can make you afraid to go to bed.
Frequent Urination (Nocturnal)
This is when you keep waking up to urinate. Waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom once is okay, but nocturnal involves waking up every couple of hours.
This can also happen as you’re trying to fall asleep. You may drift off to the land of dreams, then have to use the bathroom. Rinse and repeat.
In some cases, drinking less water before bedtime can help, or making other lifestyle changes. It may be something worth talking to your doctor about.
Sometimes, it could be due to another condition. For example, frequent urination is a symptom of diabetes. However, this is not always the case. Quite often, you may just have a psychological condition or need to drink water at a different time.
Sleep is Important
We can’t stress enough how important sleep is. Sleep doesn’t just recharge your batteries, but it helps to clean your mind and help you focus.
When something is disrupting your sleep, it can lead to you feeling tired and unable to focus. Having a couple bad nights of sleep won’t hurt you, but if you have a chronic sleep condition, it can lead to health problems.
As mentioned, lifestyle changes can help you when you are having trouble sleeping. In some cases, you may want to talk to your doctor if you continue having sleep disorder.
Get Diagnosed
When you are having a difficult time falling asleep, get yourself a diagnosis. One way for you to do so is to visit Mind Diagnostics, a website dedicated to diagnosing people like you. When you are unable to fall asleep, it can be difficult to travel to get yourself a diagnosis. One way for you to get the peace of mind you need is to click below:
stock photo ID: 1954207816