Sleep is important for your well-being. If you are suffering from a sleep-wake disorder, such as insomnia, it can affect the way your body and brain process and function. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep.”

If insomnia is robbing you of a good night’s rest, you likely want to resolve it as soon as possible, preferably before it impacts your physical and mental health. Some medications can help, though not everyone feels comfortable with this. Many find therapy to be helpful and to have far less side effects. 

It Could Be a Disorder

Sleep-wake complications can be a symptom of either a medical or an emotional concern. Insomnia could be triggered by a medication you are taking, or it could be a disorder in itself. A doctor can help you rule out medical causes. If, however, your insomnia isn’t caused by a medical condition or a drug you are taking, it may be time to see a therapist.

A therapist can help in the diagnosis of insomnia. According to Theravive, insomnia can be “a precursor to, and comorbid with, a number of mental and medical disorders.”  

Understanding Insomnia

Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep is a common experience for many people. The National Sleep Foundation says that about 30 to 40 percent of American adults experience some symptoms of insomnia, while 10 to 15 percent of them have chronic insomnia.

Transient and acute insomnia can be caused by stress, a challenging situation, or an unfortunate life event. This may last for a few nights to a few weeks, but eventually resolves itself. However, if your insomnia is the chronic type, meaning you can’t sleep for three or more nights a week for a month to three months, it may not just dissipate on its own without treatment.

Insomnia should not be ignored. It can negatively affect your health, increase your risk for emotional conditions such as depression and anxiety, and hurt your performance at work. You may not believe it, but insomnia is costing the U.S. workforce $63.2 billion a year in lost productivity.

Why Can’t You Sleep?

The three Ps of insomnia, according to Dr. Simon Kyle of Sleepbio, are “predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors.” The predisposing factors, such as “history of poor sleep, generally being a ‘worrier’ or never having been a good sleeper,” make you more prone to insomnia. The precipitating factors or triggers can include challenging life transitions and stressful conditions. Perpetuating factors are those things that can sustain sleeplessness or even worsen it.

Paying attention to sleeplessness is important because it may be associated with certain medical conditions. Thus, seeing a physician is critical. If your doctor does not find anything going on medically, consulting a therapist may be a sensible move. The National Sleep Foundation says that aside from medical conditions and medications, insomnia may be linked to mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

Goodbye, Insomnia … Hello, Sleep

One of the immediate effects of sleeplessness is difficulty focusing. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute attests that about 20 percent of road accidents that aren’t alcohol related are attributable to sleepy drivers. Accidents in the workplace, not to mention poor performance at work/school, can also happen because of lack of sleep.

Sleep is undervalued by many, but it impacts every aspect of your life and health. If insomnia is stealing the benefits and the pleasure of sleeping from you, don’t wait for something bad to happen before addressing it. It can be treated by a therapist independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services — Pittsboro, NC.

Therapy has helped many people struggling with insomnia. There are powerful non-medical treatments that can help you finally get a good night’s sleep. If you wish to resolve your sleeplessness for good, counseling can help treat the underlying causes of insomnia. Don’t underestimate the havoc that insomnia can cause in your life. Call CCS to say goodbye to insomnia and hello to sleep.