EVER experienced difficulty falling asleep at nights? Is it consistent? Do you twist and turn on your bed? That condition is often regarded as ‘insomnia’.
If you google the term, I assure you that you’ll find definitions similar to this.

Insomnia is a persistent disorder that can make it hard for someone to fall asleep; hard for that person to stay asleep; and sometimes hard for a person both to fall asleep and to stay asleep, despite having opportunity to get adequate sleep.

The insomniac usually awakes feeling unrefreshed, which takes a toll on his/her ability to function during the day. Not only can insomnia sap a person’s energy and depress a person’s mood, it can also destroy their health, work performance and quality of life. (Mayo Clinic)

But the thing for the insomniac to remember is that he/she is not alone! Below are (global) statistics to prove that:

* People today sleep 20% less than they did 100 years ago

* More than 30% of the population suffers from insomnia

* One in three people suffers from some form of insomnia during their lifetime

* More than half of Americans lose sleep due to stress and/or anxiety

* Between 40% and 60% of people over the age of 60 suffer from insomnia
* Women are up to twice more likely to suffer from insomnia than men

* Approximately 35% of insomniacs have a family history of insomnia

* 90% of people who suffer from depression also experience insomnia

* Approximately 10 million people in the USA use prescription sleeping aids

* People who suffer from sleep deprivation are 27% more likely to become overweight or obese

There is also a link between weight gain and sleep apnea.

It is often iterated that most adults need approximately seven to eight hours of sleep at night, but the aforementioned statistics show that persons discard sleep, giving it little consideration.

Sleep varies from person to person. Insomnia can either be a short-term condition (acute) or a long term condition (chronic). Acute Insomnia is very brief and occurs due to circumstances in one’s life; for example, exams or bad news. Nevertheless, this usually resolves without any treatment.

On the other hand, Chronic Insomnia is quite consistent, would visit for three nights, and would stick by your side for as long as it pleases. Unlike Acute Insomnia, the disorders of Chronic Insomnia can be tied to many causes: shift work, medications, environmental changes, unhealthy sleep habits, among other things. These can all lead to insufficient sleep, and result in fatigue, low energy, decreased performance in daily activities, and mood disturbances.

However, persons with the chronic disorder can seek medical treatment to attain normal and healthy sleep patterns. It is important to note also that this disease, when it has progressed to the chronic stage, can be linked to other medical conditions, particularly psychiatric and depression issues.

So here are some symptoms to beware of if you feel you’re treading down the Insomnia path:
* Awaking during the night

* Awaking too early

* Not feeling well-rested after a night’s sleep

* Feeling tired or sleepy during the daytime

* Irritability, depression or anxiety

* Difficulty paying attention, focusing on tasks or remembering

* Increased errors or accidents

* Tension headaches

* Distress in the stomach and intestines (gastrointestinal tract)

* Ongoing worries about sleep
* Difficulty falling asleep at night

If you’re experiencing any of the above, it is highly advisable to visit an internal medicine doctor for treatment.

Being a victim of insomnia, I’ve somehow managed to escape its horrifying stages; but, ever so often, I’m revisited by the disease. So a personal recommendation would be Chamomile herbal tea, which is available at local supermarkets countrywide including Survival Supermarket. This herbal tea is gradually curing this unexpected illness of mine. Like you, I’ve tried many sleeping pills and, unfortunately, it has led to no avail, and has even invited anxiety problems. So, I’d recommend you get rid of those pills and try the Chamomile tea!

Here’s why you should:

Chamomile is a herb that comes from a flowering plant from the daisy family. Both the fresh and dried flowers of chamomile have been used to create teas for centuries to cure a number of health problems, particularly sleeping disorders. The active ingredient in chamomile essential oil is known as bisabolol, which has a number of anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties.

By Shivanie Sugrim