Does this sound familiar? You wake night after night after sleeping briefly. You find you have trouble falling asleep. Or, perhaps you wake feeling as though you never slept. These are common symptoms of insomnia. Insomnia symptoms vary from person to person. Recognizing the signs and symptoms is the first step in your journey to recovery. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute discovered that roughly eight of every ten people suffer from insomnia. When left untreated for long periods, insomnia can have dramatic impacts on your quality of life.
Many people with insomnia have trouble falling asleep. If it takes you longer than 20 minutes to fall asleep each night, you may suffer from insomnia. If however, you find you fall asleep the moment your head hits the pillow, you may not be getting enough sleep, or the quality of your sleep may be poor. Either way, having trouble falling asleep is a primary symptom of insomnia.
For people fortunate enough to fall asleep, many find they are not able to stay asleep. Many factors can influence your ability to stay asleep at night. Drinking too much caffeine for example, especially late in the day, can cause insomnia.
Insomnia can also cause people to feel fatigued during the day. Some people find they sleep but do not wake feeling refreshed. This can cause many other symptoms, including anxiety, irritability and frustration. You may find exercise helps address symptoms of insomnia including anxiety and fatigue. Even a short walk five days each week may be all you need to get a better night's sleep.
Depression is a disorder itself, but sometimes accompanies insomnia. If you do not sleep well, it might be because you have depression. However, insomnia can also cause depression. Some doctors recommend sedating antidepressants to people that have insomnia and depression.
Insomnia affects the entire body. If you do not sleep, you may become more susceptible to chronic illness, or systemic diseases. In other cases, people with chronic diseases like fibromyalgia find they suffer from insomnia. Chronic illness may involve many different symptoms and parts of the body. Some people find they catch colds more often, while others develop worsening symptoms of arthritis or fibromyalgia. Not sleeping can lower your body's ability to fight off common viruses responsible for sickness.
Anxiety and stress are often side effects or symptoms of insomnia. If you find you constantly worry without reason, you may suffer insomnia. Insomnia can also increase the levels of a stress hormone in your body called cortisol.
Irritability often arises from too little sleep. If you find you are irritable more often than not, you may not be sleeping well. Other causes for irritability include other sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea.
8. Headaches
Headaches can cause insomnia, but they are also a symptom of insomnia. There are many other [link url=http://adam.about.com/reports/000027_3.htm] risk factors [/link] for insomnia.9. The Need For Caffeine Or Other Stimulants
Many people with insomnia find they need caffeine or other stimulants during the day just to keep up with the day's tasks. Drinking more than one or two cups of coffee each day can also contribute to worsening insomnia.10. Chronic Need For Napping
When you have insomnia, you feel tired all the time. Most people with insomnia feel a persistent urge to sleep during the day. Some find they fall asleep without realizing it. This can happen while watching television or resting at your desk. In dangerous situations, people with insomnia have fallen asleep while driving.
