Interesting Myths and Facts About Insomnia

    I think we still have some misconceptions about what it really means to be “insomnia.” We often believe that when people say they have insomnia, they mean that the symptoms are chronic and long-lasting. People with this condition may also suffer from daytime sleepiness and wakefulness, which can cause them to feel anxious and jittery. However, while sleeping so well might seem like an obvious solution for many people, there’s actually much more to insomnia than just how much time you spend asleep. Unfortunately, not everyone gets their own “normal” amount of sleep at night. In fact, according to Dr. Laura Gaudí, medical advisor and founder of The Sleep Clinic, a good amount of your adult life – especially if you haven’t slept well during the day – can negatively impact your sleeping habits. That is why she advises that people should learn how to manage their sleep schedules, because they often need to adjust between a normal morning routine and a late evening. For example, a person who has slept poorly throughout the day may find themselves needing to reduce how much sleep they get, or just change the timing of their bedtime (e.g., waking at 7:00 am instead of 9:00 am).

Myth 1: Catch up on sleep

    When most people think of catching up on sleep, they really mean getting enough sleep every night and sleeping through the rest of the night. This will help prevent sleep deprivation, which can lead to other mental and non-physical health problems. However, unfortunately, not everyone does experience this level of nightly sleep. According to one study, one in four adults never got all seven hours of sleep needed to function adequately. Additionally, according to research, the average duration of time spent sleeping before the age of 55 years was 12 hours and 13 minutes.

    With that being said, most adults only need between 7-9 hours of total sleep per night. So, those who aren’t able to meet the basic requirements for adequate sleep are going to struggle to become as tired as others. As such, these types of individuals may find themselves having too little sleep.

Myth 2: You can’t do anything you want to improve how you sleep

    However, this isn’t necessarily true. If someone is struggling with insomnia, then there are numerous things that can be done. First, it helps to know what type of insomnia you have and what the specific symptoms are in order to pinpoint exactly where to go next. Second, there are plenty of ways to find ways to deal with the symptoms associated with different types of insomnia. Things also like meditation, yoga, drinking caffeine, cutting down on sugar, taking supplements or eating some foods rich in protein can all help to improve your sleeping habits. These are just a few of the tips that I have personally used to help with my own insomnia. Many others have taken various classes to improve their sleep habits and learn everything they can before bedtime in order to fall asleep. Lastly, there are several studies out there showing that simply changing the way you wake up in the mornings can be beneficial to those who suffer from insomnia. Studies show that people who wake up in the morning can feel more alert and awake and are less likely to fall asleep in the evening.

                                                                                      

Myth 3: Medications are the same

    People with insomnia are told by doctors to take different medications because the ones they’re currently using don’t work well and are causing side effects. Some patients are given benzodiazepines or anti-anxiety meds to ease anxiety or depression. Others are advised to give antidepressants, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, cholinergic derivatives, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors to treat depression, ADHD, ADD, PTSD, and depressive episodes. When people are prescribed any of these medications, they should take them only occasionally because this is important for making sure each medication isn’t over-prescribed. Over-prescription of any kind is dangerous, but many people can benefit from trying out a new prescription every once in awhile. A recent patient experience at the clinic helped me discover why it is best to stick to less strong medications while treating a longer-term condition like insomnia. Once again, the key is making sure you keep things under doctor’s supervision and that you are slowly building up your dose.

Myth 4: Stay in bed

A lot of people believe that avoiding all forms of social interaction and keeping them confined to just their bedroom will eliminate all their insomnia symptoms without fail. This isn’t always the case. Social interactions can play an incredibly huge role in helping us communicate better and feeling more connected to the world around us. Research shows that staying active, whether that happens in our bedrooms, living room, or outdoors, can significantly improve quality of life for those suffering from mild to moderate insomnia. Not keeping a social isolation card in the back pocket will keep you from interacting with friends and family. Doing so can help you feel calmer and happier in the daytime, and can even increase productivity at home. After all, the main thing that keeps people from doing the things you love – the simple things – can make it hard to concentrate on sleep in the daytime.

  Myth 5: It’s only about the numbers

    When someone else is concerned about their sleeping health, they tend to compare themselves to others and assume that if they were successful with their previous prescriptions, they must be sleeping well now. While that may occur in one situation or another, the reality is that being prescribed the same pills, medication, pills, or other items from a doctor for the first time all over again is very unlikely to happen. When it comes to people struggling to sleep, not everyone has the luxury of waiting until the last minute to try something new. Everyone should consider why it’s important for them not to make decisions based off the number of hours they spent on one pill or drug. Instead, try and see if there are some things that can help that will make an even bigger difference to all parties involved. Here are three things to consider when looking into treatment:

Keep track of your prescription records.

Have regular checkups and appointments.

Keep tabs on your overall health.

If a medical professional tells you, ask questions. You can contact their office through phone or online.

    Remember that the only thing stopping most people is time! No matter how much you might think you’ve gotten, no amount of sleep is going to fix everything right now (unless, of course, you have epilepsy). Be kind to yourself and keep pushing through when you are struggling.

    The truth is, people have to put effort into finding solutions to some of the mental and physical issues they suffer from. They shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions. Even after getting their new dosage or medication, they should take them a day at a time so they can sleep again without having to worry about a full recovery or side effect. Then again, sometimes there’s the possibility that you can’t get to sleep because you’re stressed out, feel overwhelmed, or have other underlying health conditions. Those things are perfectly okay to feel, although they aren’t a reason to stop sleeping. Remember, you should make decisions based on the facts and figures that you can provide to a medical professional when considering therapy, medication, or other methods to boost your energy levels during the day. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.