Insomnia
You are the biggest enemy of your own sleep - Pawan Mishra
image by: University of Houston-Clear Lake
HWN Recommends
The Genius of Insomnia
Insomnia usually begins with a lament: for the love (and loss) of sleep; over the red-eyed mornings and sludgelike days that tail the wakeful nights; for the rest you crave and cannot get and the cognitive snap that eludes you. Yet if we insist on viewing insomnia merely as a matter of negatives, a condition defined by lack, a nothing, a zero, a blank, then we risk missing what it can potentially reveal.
I’ve been an insomniac all my life. As a child, my wakefulness was a matter of personal pride, a badge of honor signifying a shrewd vigilance (should any ghoul dare intrude upon my bedroom by night, it would meet with a grisly fate). Yet my refusal of sleep had less to do with my fear…
Resources
The complete guide to insomnia
We all need to sleep. If you regularly have a broken night’s sleep or struggle to rest at all, it’ll affect you day-to-day. Numerous things can keep us up at night. Whether that’s anti-social working hours, work-related stress or money worries, you’ll want to work out what’s happening and how to get some well-deserved rest.
Coronavirus Anxiety Insomnia Is Real
To treat it, we first have to understand the pandemic as a slow-moving natural disaster.
Insomnia Can Kill You
Chronic insomnia is linked to an increased risk of developing hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, heart attack, depression, anxiety and premature death.
Psychologists are calling upon Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to treat insomnia, so here are the CBT techniques to help you sleep
But as great as a relaxing bath is, the causes of poor sleep can sometimes run far deeper than day to day stress and without professional intervention, insomnia can persist for years. As well as talking therapies, psychologists are turning to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to try and help alleviate sleeplessness.
Waking Up to the Need for (Enough) Sleep
Many resign themselves to not getting enough sleep, while many others don't realize how much they need or what insufficient sleep does to the body and brain. Educating society about these facts is key to making changes that can result in a more rested—and therefore healthier and more productive—populace.
Brain Structure Is Different In People Who Have Insomnia
It’s not just anxiety keeping you up at night.
Explainer: what is insomnia and what can you do about it?
A person with insomnia is unable to fall asleep, stay asleep, and/or wakes up too early at least three times a week for at least three months. This can lead to considerable distress. Sufferers experience persistent tiredness, low energy and difficulties with concentration, attention and memory. They may feel down, stressed or anxious, not only about getting a good night’s sleep but about their ability to do their daily activities.
Grandma's insomnia might be a product of evolution
If your sleep is getting worse with age, evolution might be to blame. A study recently published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B found that humans' age-specific sleep patterns may have evolved to protect mixed-age groups from potential danger in the night. And in this scenario, the elderly members of these groups may have drawn the short straw—their restless sleep made them perfect for the night watch.
Insomnia That Kills
A woman and her husband are racing to find a treatment for her deadly genetic sleep disorder before symptoms set in.
Sleepless in Hollywood
What do Heath Ledger, Anna Nicole Smith, Jimi Hendrix, Marilyn Monroe, and now Michael Jackson have in common? Insomnia, prescription drugs, and premature death.
What Works for Insomnia
Some of the most popular treatments for Insomnia are not necessarily the most effective, according to a new study by CureTogether, a free resource owned by 23andMe that allows people to share information about their health and treatments.
The Genius of Insomnia
Lean in to your sleeplessness and discover its creative potential.
14 Reasons You Still Can't Sleep
You follow all the sleep rules to the letter, but you're still not getting the rest you need. Here's why you're so tired.
7 Surprising Causes Of Insomnia
Chronic insomnia is defined as disrupted sleep on three or more nights a week for a period of at least three months. It has been linked with a wide range of health risks, including anxiety, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, headache, heart attack and osteoporosis, according to a 2013 study.
Insomnia.net
We put this site together to help you learn about insomnia, understand common sleeping disorders, and find cures for any sleeping issues you may have. Some people do well by improving their sleep environments, by... •using sleep aids - buying a comfortable bed & pillow that improve you comfort, posture, & airflow •a chemical approach - taking sleeping pills or finding herbal remedies •alternative solutions- like meditation, white noise machines, or light therapy
Insomnia Land
Sharing the best insomnia news and advice to help you cure your lack of sleep.
The Sleep Doctor
Your sleep. Your health. Your life.
MedicineNet
Insomnia is the perception of inadequate or poor-quality sleep. It can be due to problems falling asleep, early wakening, waking frequently during the night, unrefreshing sleep, or a combination of these. Contrary to some popular beliefs, insomnia is not defined by the total amount of sleep one gets or how long it takes a person to fall asleep. Individuals can vary in their need for sleep, and in the time required to fall asleep. What is a refreshing night's sleep for one person might be insomnia for another person.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Insomnia can be acute (short-term) or chronic (ongoing). Acute insomnia is common and often is brought on by situations such as stress at work, family pressures, or a traumatic event. Acute insomnia lasts for days or weeks. Chronic insomnia lasts for a month or longer. Most cases of chronic insomnia are secondary, which means they are the symptom or side effect of some other problem. Certain medical conditions, medicines, sleep disorders, and substances can cause secondary insomnia. In contrast, primary insomnia isn't due to medical problems, medicines, or other substances. It is its own distinct disorder, and its cause isn’t well understood. Many life changes can trigger primary insomnia, including long-lasting stress and emotional upset.
NHS
Most people experience problems sleeping at some point in their life. It's thought that a third of people in the UK have episodes of insomnia. It tends to be more common in women and more likely to occur with age. It's difficult to define what normal sleep is because everyone is different. Your age, lifestyle, environment and diet all play a part in influencing the amount of sleep you need.
Patient
Normal sleep requirements vary widely, and there is no standard definition of what is normal. The amount of sleep required tends to decrease with age. Insomnia is a condition of unsatisfactory sleep, either in terms of sleep onset, sleep maintenance or early waking. Because it is a disorder that subsequently impairs daytime well-being and subjective abilities and functioning, it has been termed a "24-hour disorder".
Introducing Stitches!
Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!
Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.