Do you wake up constantly at night and then find it difficult to go back to sleep?
Do you wake up in the morning after an eight hour sleep and still not feel refreshed?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are probably an insomniac.
Insomnia does not only leave ugly dark circles but also leaves you depressed, irritable and very often, with constant headaches.
You might find it hard to concentrate at work and just want to hit the bed.
It is generally thought that women suffer from insomnia more than men. But Psychiatrist and Acupuncturist Dr. Jagdish Shah believes otherwise. "Men try to hide their depression, which might be the reason for their insomnia. In truth, men suffer from insomnia more than women," he states.
Identify Your Insomnia
Insomnia can be of three types:
- If you have not been able to sleep for a single night or a few weeks, then you could be having transient insomnia.
- Intermittent insomnia is when you cannot sleep on an on-and-off basis. It occurs from time to time.
- If you haven't been able to sleep almost every night for a month or more, then you are suffering from chronic insomnia.
This is the most serious form and could be due to;
A birth defect, which causes breathing difficulties and prevents you sleeping. (Primary insomnia)
Outside factors that cause you to acquire insomnia. (Secondary insomnia)
Why are You an Insomniac?
If you travel between time zones frequently, then jetlag could exhaust your body leading to insomnia.
Physical pain and mental stress is one of the most common causes of insomnia. If you are depressed or something has been preying on your mind, this can affect your sleep.
Lifestyle changes off late are a very common cause of insomnia. "People are in a mad rush to out do one another. So, they sacrifice their peace of mind and land up as an insomniac," opines Dr. Shah.
Caffeine, nicotine, excess sugar and certain pills are other causes of insomnia.
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