What Are the Effects of Insomnia?

Insomnia is a common and well-known sleep disorder in which people experience difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Sufferers may also wake up too early and then not be able to get back to sleep. People with insomnia report feeling tired upon waking and having a reduced energy level and mood swings. This can negatively affect their ability to perform well at work, their overall health, and their quality of life. The amount of sleep a person needs at night will differ from one person to the next, with the typical range being around seven to eight hours of solid, quality sleep per night.

Insomnia can become a serious problem when it becomes a chronic condition and affects a person’s ability to function during the day and perform their daily tasks and responsibilities. At this point, getting checked by your doctor is a good idea as they can identify the cause of your insomnia and work with you on a treatment. They also may refer you to a sleep center if they suspect you might have a sleep disorder.

A variety of factors can contribute to a person experiencing acute, short-term insomnia. It is normal for people to experience insomnia occasionally for a period of a couple of days, or even a few weeks. However, insomnia that continues for a month or more can be classified as chronic or long-term and is worth getting checked out by your doctor. Short-term insomnia can be caused by stress or an event that has caused trauma. Anxiety is a common contributor to people experiencing insomnia, as it can prevent them from being able to relax and unwind enough to fall asleep.

People with an anxiety disorder will often also have some form of insomnia. Insomnia is mainly one of the symptoms of anxiety that is the result of an injury, illness, traumatic event, or even a major life event. When a person is experiencing an anxiety attack, they often find themselves also suffering from insomnia symptoms, which can aggravate their anxiety.

Insomnia and depression will often occur concurrently. Due to the lack of sleep, constant feeling of being tired, and not having the energy or motivation to join in their normal activities as a result of insomnia, people can end up in a depressive state. Alternatively, depression may prevent people from being able to get a good night’s sleep, and they will experience insomnia symptoms. When evaluating patients for insomnia or depression, it is important that doctors closely evaluate and examine the patient for the signs of both conditions. Because these two are often found to be co-occurring in patients, it can be difficult to successfully treat one condition without treating the other.

At some point in their life, almost everyone will experience a bout of insomnia, whether it is just a night or two, or it is a chronic condition that lasts over the course of several months. Either way, insomnia can be a sign of an existing medical condition, however, it can also lead to other conditions if not treated. As insomnia affects a person’s ability to feel rested, the most common effect of insomnia is to feel tired.

Over time, this can affect their performance at work and their social life when they struggle to find the energy to do the things they used to enjoy. The reduction in performance and decrease in social interactions can lead to depression, anxiety disorders, and even substance abuse problems. It also increases the risk of disease or medical conditions including high blood pressure and heart disease. If you are experiencing insomnia, reach out to the Koala Center For Sleep Disorders to see how we can help you get a good night’s sleep and regain your energy.