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Insomnia can manifest as regular difficulty falling asleep, frequent waking during the night, and shallow sleep that prevents the body from fully recovering. Many patients experience all these symptoms simultaneously, which leads to extreme fatigue during the day. When it comes to the duration of sleep difficulties, if they last for a few nights, we consider this a physiological reaction to stress. If the problems persist for up to a few weeks, we refer to it as short-term insomnia. However, a month of sleep problems can be classified as a medical condition: insomnia.
Symptoms of chronic insomnia last significantly longer than a month.
Diagnosed sleep problems involve at least several sleepless nights per week that affect our functioning the following day. Occasional sleepless nights can happen even to healthy people—this is not yet a cause for concern. However, it is worth paying attention to your bedtime routine and sleep regularity as a preventative measure.
Stress related to falling asleep and anxiety about insomnia only make matters worse, paradoxically deepening the symptoms. The most important thing in such cases is to stay calm.
People who worry about sleep problems often fall into a vicious cycle of insomnia.
Many patients begin to feel anxious during the day about what their next night will be like.
Insomnia has a negative impact on our daily functioning. After a sleepless night, we are physically and mentally exhausted. Patients often experience reduced concentration, memory problems, drowsiness, a drop in energy and motivation, irritability, sadness, mood swings, and behavioral disorders, such as impulsivity or even aggression. They often worry about their sleep, and it happens that patients withdraw from their responsibilities, functioning worse in their professional, social, or family lives.
In response to insomnia, our body releases stress hormones and triggers the "fight or flight" response. When stress becomes more common in our lives, the body's needs, such as sleep, take a back seat. Each subsequent night leads to another stressful day. The more we worry about this during the day, the harder it is to fall asleep at night. Stress can
subside at some point, but the mechanism of the vicious cycle remains. The body stays in a state of constant alertness, it is difficult to calm one's thoughts, and the mind refuses to switch off.
This state of physiological arousal persists even after the patient falls asleep. Patients sleep lightly and alertly; they can be awakened by the slightest rustle. We call this state hyperarousal. A patient may experience these symptoms around the clock.
Insomnia is therefore a dangerous disorder that completely strips away one's quality of life. If you are experiencing the described symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible and take a step toward restoring healthy recovery.
