Bodywork and insomnia

Insomnia is the inability to obtain an adequate amount or quality of sleep. The difficulty can be in falling asleep, remaining asleep, or both. People with insomnia do not feel refreshed when they wake up. Insomnia is a common symptom affecting millions of people that may be caused by many conditions, diseases, or circumstances.

Description

Sleep is essential for mental and physical restoration. It is a cycle with two separate states: rapid eye movement (REM), the stage in which most dreaming occurs; and non-REM (NREM). Four stages of sleep take place during NREM: stage I, when the person passes from relaxed wakefulness; stage II, an early stage of light sleep; stages III and IV, which are increasing degrees of deep sleep. Most stage IV sleep (also called delta sleep), occurs in the first several hours of sleep. A period of REM sleep normally follows a period of NREM sleep.

Insomnia is more common in women and older adults. People who are divorced, widowed, or separated are more likely to have the problem than those who are married, and it is more frequently reported by those of lower socioeconomic status. Short-term, or transient, insomnia is a common occurrence and usually lasts only a few days. Long-term, or chronic, insomnia lasts more than three weeks and increases the risk for injuries in the home, at the workplace, and while driving because of daytime sleepiness and decreased concentration. Chronic insomnia can also lead to mood disorders like depression.

If you are having trouble sleeping, it may be insomnia, and the good news is - it can be treated.

We all have episodes where our sleep is less than perfect. Insomnia, involves sleep problems including difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or poor quality of sleep. Insomnia should not be confused with sleep deprivation. You can develop sleep deprivation if you're not getting enough sleep, due to a lack of opportunity to sleep.

If you have insomnia or think you might, you can take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. According to a national survey, 54% of adults said they have experienced at least one symptom of insomnia at least a few times a week.

While insomnia is a nighttime problem, it may cause daytime issues as well. People with insomnia often complain about:

• Fatigue and daytime sleepiness
• Moodiness
• Irritability or anger
• Lack of concentration and poor memory
• Upset stomach
• Mistakes/accidents at work or while driving

Insomnia may be associated with depression, poor health, and even having accidents. But fortunately, insomnia is a very treatable problem.