Saturday, December 19, 2009

What is Insomnia? Get the Facts You Need to Get a Better Night's Sleep Now

By Ash Derbe

Insomnia is the inability to stay asleep for a sufficient duration to feel fully rested. Consequently you are overcome by a feeling of fatigue and sluggishness during the day. Impaired mental clarity causes weakened performance caused by insufficient sleep.

Typically, people suffering from insomnia experience an inability to fall asleep in spite of being tired. They may achieve a light sleep that leaves them tired after waking or waking too early.

Insomnia causes are being studied and there is controversy on whether the condition is a sympton of another physical or psychological ailment or whether its a primary ailment of its own.

Insomnia symptoms typically consist of the following:

1. Waking up way too early and inability to fall to sleep again

2. Relying on artificial aids like sleeping pills or alcohol to sleep

3. Daytime fatigue or feeling tired during the day

4. Headaches occuring frequently

5. Having a short fuse or being easily irritated

6. Short attention span, not able to concentrate

7. Waking up and not feeling fully rested

8. Drifting off to sleep takes more than an hour

9. Repeatedly waking up during the night

Insomnia sufferers, also known as insomniacs frequently complain they're not able to close their eyes or quiet their minds for a consistent period of time. I know the feeling, what it means to have an active mind when it's time to go to bed.

We live in a stress-filled world, and we are often afflicted with incomplete tasks and to-do lists that continue to race around in our minds at bedtime. Many people have real issues putting those to-do lists to the side when it's time for bed.

Right brained artistic types assert they conjure up their best ideas nocturnally while they're lying in bed trying to fall asleep. One scholar half jokingly said, "If a man came up with as many daytime ideas as he does as an insomniac, he'd make a fortune!" In reality, there might be some truth in this statement, however in the long-term, the lack of sleep will take its toll on a person's health.

The dastardly thing about insomnia is your yearning to fall asleep but you're not able to do it. Your brain stays active and you're unable to quiet it down long enough to achieve the peaceful rest you need. Consequently, the next day you're so tired and unable to properly function.

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