What is Insomnia Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by the difficulty of falling asleep, maintaining sleep, or sleeping until the desired time, although the person has sufficient opportunity and suitable environment to sleep, and this situation negatively affects his/her daytime life. Insomnia doesn't just mean “getting less sleep.” Some people can't sleep for a long time after getting into bed, while others may wake up frequently during the night. Some people, on the other hand, cannot fall back to sleep by waking up much earlier than planned in the morning. What are the Symptoms of Insomnia? The main symptoms that can be seen in insomnia may include difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently at night, not being able to sleep again after waking up, waking up very early in the morning, feeling that sleep is not restful, daytime fatigue and loss of energy, difficulty in attention and concentration, forgetfulness, restlessness and intense anxiety about sleep. What Causes Insomnia Insomnia is not due to a single cause. Stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, life changes, irregular sleep hours, shift work, inappropriate sleep habits, certain medications and substances, pain, and various medical conditions can affect sleep. Sometimes the problem persists even though the cause that started the insomnia has disappeared. The person's thoughts such as "I will not be able to sleep again tonight", constantly checking the clock, staying awake for a long time in bed or trying excessively to sleep can create a cycle that continues insomnia over time. Chronic Insomnia
The fact that sleep difficulty occurs at least three nights a week, continues for at least three months and causes significant problems in daytime functionality may constitute a picture that should be evaluated in terms of chronic insomnia. The diagnosis is not made only by looking at the duration of sleep; the symptoms of the person and their effects on daytime life are evaluated together. How is Insomnia Evaluated? In the evaluation process, the hours of falling asleep and getting up, the time of falling asleep, waking up at night, total sleep time, daytime sleepiness, life habits and psychological and medical factors that may affect sleep are discussed. Sleep diary and scientific scales deemed necessary can be used. Polysomnography (PSG) is not required for the diagnosis of insomnia in every person. However, when sleep apnea, sleep-related movement disorder or a different sleep disorder is suspected, objective sleep examinations can be evaluated by the relevant physician. Insomnia Treatment
One of the approaches with the strongest scientific evidence in the treatment of chronic insomnia is the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I / CBT-I) method. Within the scope of CBT-I, the sleep patterns of the person and the factors that maintain insomnia are evaluated. Methods such as stimulus control, structuring sleep time, addressing dysfunctional thoughts about sleep, relaxation methods and developing healthy sleep habits can be used. Treatment should be planned according to the characteristics of the person and the underlying causes of insomnia. Multidisciplinary evaluation with psychiatry, neurology, chest diseases, ENT or other relevant medical branches may be required when necessary. When to Get Support? If the problem of falling or staying asleep persists for a long time, professional evaluation may be useful if the sleep problem significantly affects your daily life, work or school performance, attention or mood. Correctly determining the cause of insomnia is the first step in creating a personalized and sustainable treatment plan.