Do you have a sleep disorder? – What sleep disorder treatments are available

For many people in the world going to sleep isn’t quite as easy as laying your head down and closing your eyes; many people struggle to get to sleep, others struggle to stay asleep and some even struggle staying conscious after waking. Much of the time there can be no apparent cause to sleeping disorders though many can be easily treated through medication or even counselling, depending on the type of sleeping disorder that is being suffered.

 

How do I know if I have a sleeping disorder?

Identifying a sleeping disorder is important as it could not only be an issue of mental health but also of a physical type of disorder; whether you suffer from lack of sleep or even poor quality sleep, it is important to start learning and identifying the issue. Just because you are suffering from poor sleep however, does not mean that you have a sleeping disorder.

Much of the time people can suffer from sleeping disorders due to fitness issues, diet and caffeine intake. Also, what many people don’t take into account is that alcohol severely disorientates a person’s sleeping pattern; a night cap before bedtime may not be such a good idea. It is important to take these factors into account before seeking medical advice.

Despite this, the amount and quality of sleep that a person undertakes can quite often be a useful indicator of your overall health. There are certain characteristics of poor or broken sleep that could indicate a sleeping disorder:

  • Do you feel constantly tired, even after a good night’s sleep?
  • Are you irritable throughout the day with seemingly no cause?
  • Do you have difficulty controlling emotions?

Though many of us feel the above whether we have had a quality night’s sleep or not, they could indeed be an indication (not a diagnosis) of a sleeping disorder.

 

What of insomnia?

Insomnia is both the most widely known and common sleeping disorder in the world and is characterised by a difficulty of getting to sleep or staying asleep enough to feel refreshed the next morning. Insomnia is so common that over one-third of the United Kingdom is to suffer from the disorder at any one time during their life. Despite what some people may say, there is no set amount of sleep that you are supposed to have every night. Though people may say that the amount of sleep should be around eight hours; some people may need more than this to function properly the next day whilst others may get away with having significantly less sleep. Despite this, you should know what works for you and if you suddenly find yourself suffering, it may be time to start analysing what the problem could be.

 

What should I do about it?

Before a self diagnosis (or a professional one), as stated earlier, it is best to start looking at how you live on a day to day basis. For example, heavy meals an hour or two before bedtime may cause your sleep to suffer significantly. Another way of looking at matters in a rather obvious way is to consider your caffeine intake. Though this may sound painfully clear, those cups of tea and the odd can of cola will add up by the end of the day. Otherwise, try a relaxing bath before you go to bed or listen to relaxing music that may aid you to sleep.

If the lack of sleep is affecting your daily performance, whether on a personal or professional basis, it is time to visit your GP. Keeping a diary of your sleeping patterns is a good way of helping your GP understand the problems that you are facing with your sleep.

 

What will the doctor do?

The first step of the process is to diagnose the condition and understand what is causing
Besides talking you through a series of self-help tips, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may be recommended to help you identify certain psychological elements which may be causing the condition; things such as troubled thoughts or stressful emotions can sometimes be the cause of insomnia. Though CBT may sound a little scary, the process merely involves discussing your problems with a health professional.it. Although sometimes this can be quite blatant, on other occasions there can be underlying issues which need to be addressed in order to treat the problem.

Though tablets are quite often the assumed medication to help the disorder, they are usually the last resort to any sleeping disorder and are quite often used on a short-term basis with the smallest of doses. This is so because not only are sleeping tablets addictive (as well as dangerous in the wrong hands) but because they merely treat the symptoms of insomnia rather than the actual cause of it, and it is treating the cause, not the symptom, which is the most important part of tackling the disorder.

 

What other sleeping disorders are there?

Sleep apnea

One such common sleeping disorder wherein a person stops breathing during sleep, which is caused by a blockage of the airwaves. Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening sleep disorder. Symptoms include loud snoring, gasping, choking and waking with a short of breath. Treatment can include surgery or even lead to alternative therapies including the learning of the learning of the didgeridoo.

 

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder wherein a person will suffer from bouts of sleep which cannot be controlled and are otherwise known as ‘sleep attacks’. Unfortunately, narcolepsy cannot be cured though it can be treated and tailored to the individual. Forms of treatment range from oral medication through to changes in lifestyle.

 

Night Terrors

A type of disorder which induces dread or terror upon a person most commonly experiencing stages three and four of the sleep cycle. Though night terrors should not be confused with nightmares, they occur less frequently and are quite common throughout childhood. Night terrors can be cured through the intervention of scheduled and regular sleep, though if they are common enough, benzodiazepine medications may be used at to help treat the disorder.