The 5 Most Painful Effects of Insomnia

What Are The Effects Of Insomnia?

Insomnia is a disorder that affects millions across the world. We know we are losing sleep but very often we do not realize the other effects of insomnia that can ensue. If you are experiencing sleeplessness you need to be aware of how it is affecting your life and your health as well as your interaction with others. The best way to stay informed is to discuss your symptoms with a doctor who can evaluate your health and offer you ways to improve your sleep/wake cycles.

An important fact to keep in mind is that insomnia is actually a symptom and not a separate condition. Finding the source of your sleeplessness is the best way to resolve the issue. Discussing your sleep problems with a doctor also means keeping them informed of other things in your life that can have an impact on your health or stress levels. Reducing the amount of stress in your life may have a large impact on insomnia and its effects.

* Irritability: We've all experienced irritability at some time or the other. Not getting enough sleep leaves us feeling cranky and more than a little frustrated. As a result of which we scowl, growl and interact poorly with others.
* Depression: One of the more serious effects of insomnia, depression can also be the cause that started it. A lack of sleep can leave us feeling helpless, out of sorts and also weak. Caught up in these emotions we can easily become depressed.
* Impaired Memory or Judgment: When our mind has been deprived of rest and the ability to recover sufficiently from absorbing information, it begins to falter. Your ability to focus enough to make decisions and your ability to create and remember memories may be delayed or may become frustratingly difficult.
* Response Time Delays: When we're driving, walking or doing other activities that require focus we don't react as quickly as we would normally. Without enough rest the mind and the body do not react in sync or register changes that need to be made to avoid getting hurt.
* Drug Dependency and Alcohol Abuse: Both of these problems are associated with insomnia. In desperation insomniacs try many methods to resolve the issue on their own. Alcohol may be used for its hypnotic effects which make it easier to drift off and drugs may be used to force the user to sleep without a natural sleep/wake cycle (or to achieve better concentration and energy levels where meth and cocaine are involved) being present. It's far too easy to abuse these methods and therefore abuse of these substances can become a problem for insomnia sufferers. The problem only worsens when the substance is required to get to sleep.

These are only a few of the effects of insomnia. Along with these, diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease can also be triggered off by chronic insomnia. When the lack of sleep goes on for long periods it can even cause the sufferer to prematurely age. Sleep is a necessary part of life. It gives us the ability to not only properly rest but also digest the information we've taken in that day and regenerate tissues that have degraded over the course of the day. If you feel insomnia may be a problem, it is imperative to seek the necessary help as soon as possible.