Poor sleep, as anyone who suffers from it knows, can make life miserable. Those night spent tossing and turning rob the body and mind of the rest they need to function properly. In addition to negatively impacting energy levels, mood and productivity, it can also increase your risk of developing conditions like depression, high blood pressure and strokes.
Insomnia is an inability to fall asleep or enjoy uninterrupted sleep. Individuals with insomnia may have persistent difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, and as a result, they experience poor quality sleep that affects their day-to-day functioning. Most adults have experienced insomnia or sleeplessness at one time in their lives. An estimated 30%-50% of the general population are affected by insomnia, and 10% have chronic insomnia. Insomnia is particularly common in the elderly and is particularly common for those suffering with other mental health difficulties.
Insomnia is generally classified based on the duration of the difficulties experienced. Symptoms lasting less than one week are classified as transient insomnia; symptoms between one and three weeks are classified as short-term insomnia, and symptoms lasting longer than three weeks are classified as chronic insomnia.
If someone in your family is suffering from sleep difficulties, it not only takes a toll on their well-being, but on those around them too. The increased irritability and poor mood that often results from a lack of sleep can cause difficulties within the family as a whole. It can cause tension within family relationships and can start to become a burden for the individual’s partner and children in particular.
If someone in your family is struggling with sleep difficulties and it is starting to take a toll on your well-being, the practitioners at VPCS can help. The practitioners can assist you in managing your own emotions, so that you can be a better support for your loved ones as well. This can include: