A sleep disorder is a condition in which a person's sleep patterns get severely messed up. The person's trouble with sleeping becomes so severe that they have problems doing normal activities, and might have trouble functioning on a normal mental and emotional level. Sleep disorders can be caused by a lot of different conditions, both biological as well as psychological. Here is a list of the most common sleep disorders:
Hatzfeldt Syndrome: Sometimes this is also called Systemic Ceuro Epriphysial Disorder and can be categorized by abnormal behavior and a sleep pattern that has become irregular.
Sleep Apnea: This is when a person's airway becomes obstructed while they are sleeping. It can cause loud snoring and often the airway will become so obstructed that the person stops breathing for a second, causing them to wake up suddenly.
Narcolepsy: This is when people can fall asleep without warning and against their will, often at times that are not appropriate.
Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome: This is a condition in which, though the person is able to stay asleep, they cannot wake up when they want and they cannot fall asleep when they want.
Sleep orders fall under several classifications. Dysomnias are sleep disorders that include disturbances to the circadian rhythms that are cause by circumstances both inside of and outside of the body. These disorders include, among others, insomnia and narcolepsy. Parasomnias are sleep disorders that are caused by partial awakenings during sleep or during the transition between sleep and wakefulness. These disorders include sleepwalking, teeth grinding, and night terrors. Sleep disorders can also be caused by medical and psychiatric conditions like depression, anxiety and alcoholism.
Sleep disorders can be caused by any number of things. Usually a sleep disorder is caused by a major change occurring in a person's life. Sometimes though, a sleep disorder can be caused by anxiety, various kinds of bone and muscle aches, and biological disorders.
So how do you deal with a sleep disorder? The first thing you need to do is talk to your doctor. Your doctor will be able to determine if your sleeping problem is biological or psychological. If it is biological your doctor might prescribe some medication to help you deal with it and get back to sleep. If it is psychological, a psychologist might give you a prescription to help you sleep. You can also try natural remedies, like herbal supplements and relaxation techniques. Sometimes psychotherapy can help you work through the issues that are keeping you awake. This is especially helpful for people who can't pin their sleep disorder on a biological problem.
Sleep disorders can be very problematic. Our bodies require us to sleep on a regular basis, and when we don't get enough sleep our lives can be impacted in very negative ways. If you think that you have a sleep disorder, call your doctor immediately. Together the two of you can figure out why you aren't sleeping and can figure out how to help you sleep regularly again.
Difficulty Sleeping Tip #1
Caffeine is only your friend during the morning hours. Even though you might not think that caffeine affects you very much, it does play a big part in your body's ability to settle down and rest at the end of the day. If you must have coffee, switch to decaf after lunch. Caffeine can affect your body for up to eight hours. The longer it has to leave your system the less likely it is to affect your sleeping habits. |
Difficulty Sleeping Tip #2
Exercise will not wear you out; it will actually pump you up. Exercise actually gives people energy. While you might feel tired immediately after a workout, your body will not sleep well if you try to do your workout right before bed. It is also bad for your body as a rule to go from lots of motion to staying still. This is why there are warm ups and cool downs before and after exercise workouts. |
Difficulty Sleeping Tip #3
While many of us may fall asleep while watching television, if you are having sleeping problems, you want to give yourself at least an hour before going to bed that is television free. Television is a stimulant for your brain (even if the material is not particularly scholarly in content). Watching it right before bed keeps you awake and it takes a while for your brain to wind down after you turn the television off. |
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