"Just" bad sleep or insomnia?
We all face periods when we have difficulty sleeping or have difficulty falling asleep. Approximately one in three people regularly encounter these types of sleep problems, but in most cases, these problems are temporary and usually disappear on their own. But when the complaints become regular and last longer than three weeks, we speak of insomnia, a serious phenomenon that can significantly affect the quality of life.
Insomnia is a condition in which it is difficult to fall asleep, maintain sleep, or achieve a sense of rest after sleep.
The long-term presence of insomnia can have serious consequences on an individual’s physical and mental health. People who suffer from insomnia often experience fatigue, reduced concentration, irritability and difficulty performing daily activities.
Therefore, it is important to recognize and address sleep problems in a timely manner, especially when insomnia becomes chronic. Consulting a sleep professional or doctor can help identify the causes of insomnia and develop tailored strategies to improve sleep quality and overall health.
People who suffer from insomnia often exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:
You have difficulty starting sleep, which can result in long periods of wakefulness before falling asleep.
You experience frequent awakenings during the night, which can interfere with continuous sleep.
You feel awake or wake up too early in the morning, earlier than you would like or plan.
Despite sleeping, you feel tired and restless after waking up.
You experience constant fatigue throughout the day or have episodes of unexpected daytime sleepiness.
You become irritable or susceptible to mood swings due to lack of sleep.
You show difficulty concentrating, reduced attention and problems with memory and decision-making.
You sleep an average of less than 5 hours per night, which can further worsen the symptoms of insomnia.
Recognizing these symptoms is crucial for properly diagnosing insomnia and setting up an appropriate treatment plan to improve the quality of sleep and the general health of the individual.
Paradoxical insomnia is often misperceived as a short-term sleep problem, but in reality the situation can be different. The name “paradoxical” derives from the paradox between the experienced and actual length of sleep.
People suffering from paradoxical insomnia may have the subjective impression that they sleep very little or no sleep during the night, even though the actual number of hours of sleep is often longer than their perception.
This form of insomnia is characterized by the feeling of waking up during the night and being aware of it, which creates the impression of insomnia despite the actual prolonged sleep.
The actual amount of sleep can be significantly longer than what a person perceives, and this disproportion between the experienced and actual sleep often creates additional stress and anxiety in the individual.
The identification of paradoxical insomnia is important in order to understand unconscious perceptions and approach proper treatment to establish a balance between the actual and experienced quality of sleep.
In psychophysiological insomnia, individuals are convinced that they cannot fall asleep or achieve deep sleep, leading to a paradoxical situation in which their sleep efforts often result in the opposite effect.
Attempts to fall asleep become frustrating because the person, despite the efforts, experiences difficulties in falling asleep normally.
This type of insomnia is often associated with bedtime rituals, such as closing curtains or brushing teeth, which become associated with anxiety and the formation of negative associations with sleep. In addition, intense attempts to fall asleep can result in the opposite effect – a person remains awake and nervous.
The paradox of psychophysiological insomnia is that when an individual is not actively focused on trying to fall asleep, for example while watching TV or reading, it can happen that they fall asleep spontaneously.
A key element of this type of insomnia lies in the unconscious adoption of negative behavioral patterns related to sleep, which can create a vicious circle of anxiety and insomnia.
Idiopathic insomnia refers to a condition in which there is no clear identified cause of insomnia symptoms. The diagnosis of idiopathic insomnia is made when other potential causes of insomnia have been ruled out, and yet the symptoms persist.
This term “idiopathic” suggests that the cause of insomnia remains unknown or unexplained. Despite various testing and monitoring methods, there are no clear indicators that would indicate a specific source of sleep problems.
This diagnosis is made after other medical or psychological cells that could cause insomnia, such as depression, anxiety, or physical illnesses, have been ruled out.
The existence of insomnia and its specific form can be determined through specific questionnaires and sleep studies.
These methods help sleep professionals gather relevant information about a patient’s sleep patterns, allowing for a more accurate diagnosis and adjustment of the appropriate treatment plan.
Here are some key methods:
The combination of these methods allows sleep professionals to more accurately understand the characteristics of insomnia and provide personalized treatment approaches.
When the cause of insomnia is identified, it is possible to start a specific treatment tailored to the individual needs of the patient. Different therapeutic strategies can be applied, depending on the nature of the sleep problem.
Some of the treatment options can be practical sleep tips, or your doctor can provide you with useful advice on sleep hygiene and lifestyle changes that can improve sleep quality. In addition, they may also prescribe sleeping medication to facilitate the initial falling asleep.
Also, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I) can be used, which is aimed at changing the negative thinking and behavior patterns associated with insomnia.
The main goal of LF Polyclinic is to improve the quality of life and health of our clients by providing them with top-notch healthcare services.
