People who usually have trouble getting to sleep often complain about impaired daytime function. Researchers haven’t been able to document that such chronic insomniacs actually do worse than people who sleep normally. Consequently, they have assumed that perhaps the problem was more perceived than real.
How Do Chronic Insomniacs Deal With a Night of No Sleep?
Recently, however, investigators conducted a study that really shone a spotlight on the trouble with sleep-onset insomnia. The scientists had people stay up all night and then tested them the next day (Nature and Science of Sleep, online Dec. 11, 2019). Those who reported chronic problems falling asleep had terrible performance after staying awake overnight. Volunteers of the same age who reported normal sleep patterns were not nearly as impaired as the chronic insomniacs.
The lead researcher remarked:
“Our study suggests that even with a few hours of sleep deprivation—which people routinely experience for work or family reasons–those with sleep onset insomnia may be much more impaired than those who normally sleep well at night. This may increase their risk of errors and accidents whenever time-sensitive performance is required, such as while driving or when focused on a safety-critical task.”
According to the authors, their findings underscore the importance of treating insomnia effectively. Otherwise, chronic insomniacs may be at serious risk for mistakes and accidents after prolonged wakefulness. That has implications for the safety of everyone they may encounter as well.
How Can You Overcome Insomnia?
There is no single magic bullet for managing sleep disorders. Some people find that “sleep hygiene” (going to bed and waking at the same time each day, cutting caffeine during the afternoon, avoiding electronic screens for a few hours before bedtime, making time to relax mindfully) is all that they need. Others may want to alter their diets so they steer clear of junk food. Studies have shown that cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia can be very helpful.
Sleeping pills can help people get to sleep, but chronic insomniacs should be wary of relying on them. Many sleeping pills have undesirable side effects, and often patients have difficulty stopping them. If you would like to learn more about sleep medicines and nondrug approaches to managing sleeplessness, you may be interested in our eGuide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep.
