Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Disorders
By Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D.
Most everyone has an occasional night of bad sleep. Difficulty sleeping may last only a few days and often goes
away without treatment. However, other factors - such as stress or poor health - can cause a more serious type of
sleeplessness that may last for several weeks. This kind of insomnia may not go away on its own, and can lead
to both short and long-term health problems if left untreated. Some of the more severe sleep disorders need to
be treated at a sleep disorder clinic.
More than one third of adults report some degree of insomnia within any given year, and up to 6% use some type
of medication to aid sleep. As many as half of adults have significant episodes of insomnia at some point in
their lives, resulting in co-occurring medical and psychological problems. According to a study in the journal
Sleep, chronic insomnia significantly increases a person’s chances of developing anxiety disorders and depression.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine defines insomnia as unsatisfactory sleep that impacts daytime functioning.
Chronic insomnia is more common among women and other risk factors include increasing age, psychiatric illness,
medical comorbidities, impaired social relationships, lower socioeconomic status, separation from a spouse or
partner, and unemployment.
High Costs of Insomnia
A survey of 1,308 workers found that insomnia was the most predictable factor of absenteeism at work, with
those experiencing insomnia having an average monthly sick absence rate 2.8 times that of fellow employees
without sleep problems. The estimated annual loss of productivity due to insomnia in the U.S. was $41.1
billion in a 1994 study. In addition to the economic toll, insomnia can lead to severe health complications
due to prolonged periods of stress.
Stress and Insomnia
Scientists have determined that insomniacs suffer from a specific medical condition which causes a sustained
arousal and elevated stress.9 They exhibit significantly higher cortisol secretion, especially in the evening
and first half of the night.10 This means that insomniacs are experiencing continual hormonal changes in their
bodies, which prevents them from sleeping well. Research has shown that people who secrete the most hormones,
experience the greatest amount of sleep disturbances. These findings associate insomnia with a disorder of the
central nervous system, which places insomniacs at risk for significant medical problems, in addition to several
mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
Symptoms and Types of Insomnia
Sleep-onset insomnia refers to the inability to fall asleep initially, whereas sleep-maintenance insomnia refers
to the inability to stay asleep, with one or more awakenings during the night.
Symptoms of insomnia can be different for each individual. Some of more common symptoms can include the following:
Difficulty falling asleep, which can mean lying in bed for up to an hour or more
Recurring nightmares
Continually awakening from sleep and having trouble getting back to sleep
Sleep is an essential part of our lives. It’s an opportunity for reparation, both physically and psychologically.
The best way to improve sleep involves getting appropriate treatment and making lifestyle changes, such as
eliminating offending food and substances, avoiding stimulating activities before bed, and adopting a regular
sleeping time. More complex behavioral approaches to improving sleep habits, such as psychotherapy, may need to
be adopted as well.
References (To view, roll mouse over the "References" heading; to hide, click on the heading)
Fredricks, R. (2008). Healing & wholeness: Complementary and alternative therapies for mental health. Bloomington,IN: Authorhouse.
Ohayon MM. Epidemiology of insomnia: what we know and what we still need to learn. Sleep Med Rev 2002;6: 97-111.
Beers, Mark H., and Berkow, Robert. The Merck Manual. Whitehouse NJ: Merck Research Labs, 1999, p. 1410-13.
Neckelmann D, Mykletun A, Dahl AA. Chronic insomnia as a risk factor for developing anxiety and depression. Sleep 2007 Jul 1;30(7): 873-80.
Sateia MJ, Doghramji K, Hauri PJ, Morin CM. Evaluation of chronic insomnia. An American Academy of Sleep Medicine review. Sleep 2000;23: 243-308.
Buscemi N, Vandermeer B, Friesen C, Bialy L, Tubman M, Ospina M, Klassen TP, Witmans M. Manifestations and management of chronic insomnia in adults. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Summ) 2005 Jun;125: 1-10.
Leigh P. Employee and job attributes and predictors of absenteeism in a national sample of workers: The importance of health and dangerous working conditions. Soc Sci Med 1991 33: 127-37.
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