Insomnia: Signs, Causes and Effects

Sleeping deeply should be a refreshing, restful and a peaceful process. It should never be forced upon. However, some find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. When this happens, the problems of insomnia are beginning to appear. 

In short, if you cannot sleep you cannot function and the vicious cycle begins… Sleep is a necessity to stay healthy. 

There are many signs and causes of insomnia and these vary from person to person. The effects are experienced in different ways as well per individual. 

Insomnia can be caused by environmental, medical or even psychological issues. It can be characterized in four major ways; difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, the quality of sleep is poor, patterns of sleeplessness through the night waking up tired. 

If you cannot sleep, this can have a serious effect to your immune system which will deteriorate your ability to fight off diseases. When you are in deep sleep, your body cells release specials proteins called cytokines which help to increase the strength of you immune system. Bluntly, your body needs sleep to strengthen your ability to fight off disease. 

The number of hours someone sleeps is not the issue. It is the quality of sleep they receive that matters. 

An important thing to note is that it is important to rule out any underlying issue if you continue to experience insomnia for long periods of time. 

There are many causes of insomnia. Some maybe prone to insomnia more than others, for example females and those with a history of depression. Other causes include stress, anxiety, medical side effects and extreme temperatures. 

If someone is diagnosed with chronic insomnia, they have got that from a combination of factors including underlying physical and mental disorders. The most common cause of chronic insomnia is depression.

There are many factors and habits within our daily life which we can control that aggravate insomnia in some. These include drinking excessive amounts of caffeine, drinking alcohol before bedtime, smoking before bedtime and a long nap in the afternoon or evening.

Sleep deprivation is a very serious issue. If someone is sleep deprived, their performance, ability to think clearly and react would all be altered. Their moods would change for the negative which in turn can have an effect on their relationships, increase stress and anxiety and have a long term effect on their mental health. 

Insomnia is something many experience knowingly and unknowingly. It is not discussed as openly as it should be… if someone is suffering, they may need to look at their lifestyles and make a few alterations with a Practitioners help.

If you or someone close to you is experiencing such problems please don’t hesitate to contact me for further information on the details provided below:

Ekta Bid, 

BA(Hons) Tourism Management.

Certified Marketing Executive

Diploma in Play Therapy and Child Psychology

Certified Insomnia Practitioner 

Certified EQ Assessor.

Contact information:

Facebook: @Ekta Bid- Play Therapist

Instagram: @ekta_playtherapist

Email: ekta@africansojourn.co.ke

Tel: 0721379619 (Work)

       0734974957 (Personal)

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