Sleep problems are a health issue that can have far-reaching effects on your physical and mental condition.
How you function, your emotional health, the strength of your immune system--all of these can be negatively affected by problems with sleep.
These sleep issues can also affect concentration, social interaction and job performance.
Your overall sense of well-being will probably suffer.
Children often have difficulty sleeping, but their sleep patterns normally settle down as they grow.
More direct action is required when adults are dealing with problems that keep them from sleeping.
Mild sleep problems are often only temporary and can be relieved with a short period of treatment.
Chronic sleep disorders will require more extensive diagnosis and treatment.
Sleep problems seem to become more likely in women after they reach the age of 40.
Difficulty sleeping tends to have a greater negative effect on women, who are already at greater risk for stress, emotional anxiety and depression.
This sets up the possibility of a vicious cycle, in which women who suffer from anxiety begin to focus their anxiety on their inability to sleep.
Lack of sleep makes the anxiety worse.
It's difficult to escape from this downward emotional spiral.
Generally speaking, there are three basic areas where sleep problems occur.
The first area includes difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
This is commonly known as insomnia and is probably the most common of the three types of sleep disorders.
Some people struggle with getting too much sleep (this is called hypersomnolence).
Problems here also include falling asleep when a person doesn't want to sleep.
The third type of sleep disorders relate to nighttime events, like sleepwalking, night terrors and nightmares.
Stress can lie at the foundation of many sleep issues.
Sleep is often more difficult to accomplish when you are struggling with personal or family issues, difficulties at school or work, or general anxiety.
Stressful life events are almost always to blame for the sleep problems of children.
Sleep problems should not be ignored because they are strong indicators of deeper health or emotional problems.
Your first step should be to identify the type of sleep disorder you are having.
Next, it's important to isolate specific causes.
Knowing the real reason behind your inability to sleep will lead you toward healthy solutions.
How you function, your emotional health, the strength of your immune system--all of these can be negatively affected by problems with sleep.
These sleep issues can also affect concentration, social interaction and job performance.
Your overall sense of well-being will probably suffer.
Children often have difficulty sleeping, but their sleep patterns normally settle down as they grow.
More direct action is required when adults are dealing with problems that keep them from sleeping.
Mild sleep problems are often only temporary and can be relieved with a short period of treatment.
Chronic sleep disorders will require more extensive diagnosis and treatment.
Sleep problems seem to become more likely in women after they reach the age of 40.
Difficulty sleeping tends to have a greater negative effect on women, who are already at greater risk for stress, emotional anxiety and depression.
This sets up the possibility of a vicious cycle, in which women who suffer from anxiety begin to focus their anxiety on their inability to sleep.
Lack of sleep makes the anxiety worse.
It's difficult to escape from this downward emotional spiral.
Generally speaking, there are three basic areas where sleep problems occur.
The first area includes difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
This is commonly known as insomnia and is probably the most common of the three types of sleep disorders.
Some people struggle with getting too much sleep (this is called hypersomnolence).
Problems here also include falling asleep when a person doesn't want to sleep.
The third type of sleep disorders relate to nighttime events, like sleepwalking, night terrors and nightmares.
Stress can lie at the foundation of many sleep issues.
Sleep is often more difficult to accomplish when you are struggling with personal or family issues, difficulties at school or work, or general anxiety.
Stressful life events are almost always to blame for the sleep problems of children.
Sleep problems should not be ignored because they are strong indicators of deeper health or emotional problems.
Your first step should be to identify the type of sleep disorder you are having.
Next, it's important to isolate specific causes.
Knowing the real reason behind your inability to sleep will lead you toward healthy solutions.