Many of us will struggle with inadequate sleep at some part of their life but because the problem doesn’t affect their daily functioning, they may not get to consult a doctor or a therapist or seek treatment for the problem. insomnia (inadequate sleep) in adults with symptoms lasting for 3 or more nights per week for a prolonged period and whose daytime functioning is considerably affected should be treated. Such treatment can range from talk therapy(psychotherapy) or medication or a combination of both.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder which consists of inability to fall asleep or stay asleep or getting up early in the morning for a prolonged life. It is indeed a very common disorder, that affects up to about 6-40 percent of the population. Insomnia (inadequate sleep) can affect the quality of life just like disorders like depression and heart failure and so it shouldn’t be left unattended. Untreated insomnia also leads to or worsens other mental disorders and also impacts physical health like increasing predisposition to accidents and increasing appetite
Inadequate sleep(insomnia) should be thoroughly investigated. Issues like the duration and frequency of the sleep, schedule for bed time, time taken to get asleep, awakenings, rise time, sleep environment, triggers in form of stress, shift work etc, behaviours during Sleep, past medical history and past treatment history should be assessed. Medication like caffeine can last up to 6hrs and so history of coffee use and use of other caffeinated products should be clarified. Nicotine also impacts sleep and so that history should also be investigated. Physical Sleep disorders like apnoea and obstruction should be ruled out by ideally a specialists in Ear Nose and Throat (E.N.T.) specialists.
Ideally the first option for treatment of Insomnia is psychotherapy and specifically cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia. Some treatment guidelines recommend that cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) be the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, offered either face-to-face or via digital platforms. For adults where CBT-I is unsuitable or ineffective, they recommend medication treatment for long-term chronic insomnia, provided that the use of medication is only for the shortest possible duration and reassessed within three months.
CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia) is a proven and recommended treatment for insomnia. It uses different methods, like learning about sleep, changing habits, and changing thoughts. CBT-I works well for people with or without other health problems and so it would be good for the person who has insomnia to be assessed by qualified professionals.
If someone suspects that they have insomnia they should seek assessment by the nearest medical provider, or the nearest counsellor. We should know that untreated insomnia can result in both physical and psychological complications, can complicate existing medical conditions and Insomnia can also be the pointer that there is indeed another medical condition
It is therefore wrong to buy over the counter medication for treatment of insomnia or use substances like alcohol or other substances of abuse to manage insomnia. It is also important for counsellors and other front-line workers to refer cases of insomnia which are not improving for further investigations by the relent specialists. Use of “herbal” products has become rampant yet it is difficult to know what is contained in those herbs. Use of such products without professional involvement is therefore strongly discouraged.
The writer is a mental health advocate with 25 years of medical practice experience
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