subject: Signs of a Sleep Problem [print this page] Signs of a Sleep Problem Signs of a Sleep Problem
People use this phrase to describe a number of problems, all of which share the feature of an inability to get to sleep in a desired length of time. The difculty can occur when rst getting intobed, after waking up in the middle of the night, or in the early morning hours.
Can't Get to Sleep:
For many people, the primary problem is sleep latency. They have difculty falling asleep. Instead, they toss and turn as the minutes, and even hours, go by. Once this pattern has been established, they may try ill-advised measures to break it, such as distracting themselves with television or drinking a nightcap before bed. Often they start to feel anxious before bedtime, fearing they won't be able to fall asleep. They may delay going to bed for several hours, convinced there's no chance they'll fall asleep. Eventually, they do fall asleep from exhaustion, but they may end up getting only a few hours of sleep before it's time to get up in the morning. The next night, the scenario repeats.
Can't Stay Asleep:
Sometimes the biggest problem is repeated awakenings, a phenomenon known as sleep fragmentation. People with this complaint may fall asleep with relative ease at bedtime but wake up an hour or so later. This pattern repeats through the night, so the overnight hours are punctuated by a series of dispiriting clock readings: 1:35, 2:21, 3:06, 4:20, 5:38, and so on. Insufcient sleep leads to daytime fatigue.
Wake Up Early in the Morning:
Waking up at 4 or 5 a.m. and being unable to get back to sleep can be as troubling as having difculty falling asleep at bedtime. As a result of the truncated sleep, the person does not feel rested and is tired during the day.
Can't Stay Awake:
It's normal to feel some mild drowsiness at times during the day, especially during the afternoon. Some people, however, experience daytime drowsiness so severe that they battle--often unsuccessfully--to stay awake.This problem can make getting through the day an epic struggle, and it may lead to poor work performance, automobile accidents, and marital problems. They may nod off at quiet moments (during a dimly lit meeting or while watching television) or even during not-so-quiet moments (while eating lunch, having a conversation, or driving a car). They frequently underestimate how sleepy they are until prodded to seek medical help by a spouse, friend, or coworker who is frustrated with their sleeping on the job.
Can't Get Up in the Morning:
For some people, the worst moment of the day is the second the alarm starts beeping in the morning. They emerge in a daze, searching for the snooze button or turning the alarm off altogether. Once out of bed, it may take an hour or more to fully emerge from the fog. The problem here is excessive sleep inertia -difculty making the transition from sleep to wakefulness.
Do Strange Things in My Sleep:
For people in this category, sleep is full of surprises. They may wake up sweating from vivid nightmares, or their partner may complain that they walked, talked, or shouted--or even kicked or punched--during the night. Partners may say that these people seem to be acting out their dreams, especially scary ones. They sometimes discover that objects in their bedroom or in other rooms have moved or temporarily vanished, or they'll nd half-eaten food or dirty dishes in the bedroom or kitchen. They may have vague memories of these events or no recollection whatso-ever.
Can't Sleep Because of My Partner:
People with sleep problems often disrupt their partner's sleep. Snoring and bruxism are the most common complaints, but people may also report getting kicked or punched or being roused from sleep by shouts or screams. Less dramatically, a severe insomniac's constant tossing and turning and frequent bathroom trips can impair a spouse's sleep. When this is the primary complaint, it usually means the wrong person is in my ofce. If it's yours, give this book to your bed partner once you're nished.
