Many people struggle with insomnia or difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Sometimes, this can be a symptom of a more serious problem.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
There are some sleep conditions that may require medical attention. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a serious condition that can cause drowsiness and other serious health concerns, including depression. If you snore heavily or if you feel like you wake up suddenly throughout the night gasping for air, you may have OSA. Other symptoms include feeling grumpy or impatient, being forgetful, and falling asleep in the middle of activities or conversations.
Sleep Cycle Disruption Due to Shift Work
If you work nights or late evenings, you may also have special concerns regarding sleep Our natural sleep and wake times center around light. When you sleep during the day and are awake at night i can be very confusing for the body. This can also lead to some mental and physical concerns, and people who work second or third shift often feel drowsy most of the time. Light therapy and keeping a consistent schedule may be helpful in reducing these problems.
Side Effects of Medications
Many medications can disrupt sleep. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the medications you are taking to see if any of them are known to cause these problems.
Depression
Depression can cause a person to sleep too much or too little. If you are sad or down most of the day nearly everyday or you have experienced a loss of interest in or pleasure in the things you used to enjoy, you may be struggling with depression. You can explore this site for further information and resources on Depression or ask your doctor for help.
Anxiety
Often people have trouble sleeping due to anxiety. If you have trouble sleeping because you are distracted by thoughts and worries, then you may be struggling with anxiety. If you feel very tense at night and this interrupts the quality of your sleep, try our Audio Time Outs to reduce muscle tension and physical stress link here