Pyschological Sleeping Disorders
If someone has trouble getting enough sleep, getting sound sleep or sleeping according to a regular schedule, a sleep disorder may be the problem. Disorders come in two categories: dyssomnias and parasomnias. Dyssomnias are disorders where a person has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or maintaining a regular sleep routine. Hypersomnia is another form of dysomnia where a person feels sleepy during waking hours, and ends up sleeping on and off throughout the day. Parasomnias are disorders where a person experiences nightmares or sleep walking events. Psychological causes for sleep disorders can be stress-related, or anxiety-induced. In some cases, a mental disorder such as depression or bipolar disorder can cause a disruption in the circadian rhythm cycles that regulate sleep patterns.- Insomnia is the most prevalent form of sleep disorder where a person has trouble falling asleep. The American Insomnia Association lists two psychological factors that can contribute to insomnia--prolonged stress throughout the day and being overly active, either mentally or physically, prior to going to bed. People who tend to worry about getting enough sleep run the risk of developing a type of learned insomnia where falling asleep becomes increasingly difficult over time. Disruptions in circadian rhythm cycles may be caused by over-activity during waking hours that interferes with normal wake/sleep cycles.
The Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists insomnia as a common symptom of depression. Hypersomnia, or excessive sleeping, can be a characteristic of someone who's depressed; however, insomnia occurs more often in these cases. Prolonged periods of insomnia work to further aggravate a person's depression to the point where a vicious cycle ensues, causing a full-blown sleep disorder to develop. It's not uncommon for sleep-disordered breathing problems to arise as a result of the combined effects from depression and insomnia. In cases of depression where anti-depressants are ineffective, a sleep-disordered breathing problem may be disrupting circadian rhythm cycles to the point where the sleep disorder becomes the basis for the depression.- Prolonged periods of insomnia contribute to a person spending more time in lighter stages of sleep. As a result, stages meant for deep sleep are never reached. The occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing patterns is higher within light sleep stages, and is more likely to develop the longer insomnia persists. Airway constrictions, such as tension in the throat, or tightness in the chest are possible effects from excessive mental and emotional stress, or depression and anxiety symptoms. Breathing problems during sleep are common in these instances, and can quickly develop into a disorder.
Helping a person to resume normal sleep cycles is the first step towards treating a psychological sleeping disorder. Anti-depressant treatments are often a trial-and-error approach, that's further exacerbated by the effects of insomnia. Cognitive behavior therapies may be effective in helping a person to understand what causes the disorder, and learn new behavior patterns. Meditation, yoga, acupuncture and breathing exercises are other methods that work to reduce stress levels, and retrain the body to breathe naturally. A number of homeopathic remedies used to treat different causes of insomnia are also available. Dietary changes may involve reducing caffeine and sugar intakes, as these types of foods tend to further aggravate sleep problems.
