Sleep Disorders

Arayna M. Jean-Jacques

December 12, 2006

Psy-2 T/Th

The Importance of Getting Enough Sleep

Almost everyone suffer from not getting enough sleep in one form or another at some time throughout their life. If you consistently feel tired you are not getting enough sleep. Inadequate sleep can also be referred to as insomnia. Insomnia is only one of many sleeping disorders. The effects of insomnia include but are not limited to less ambitious, less productive, poor performance on school, work, or even daily life task. Insomnia is a symptom not an illness. It can last no more than a few days and is considered to be transient at this point, or it could be a long term problem for some individuals. Someone who has trouble sleeping should consider doing the following things: identify the problem, how it could affect their daily life, and how the problem could be solved.

Sleep disorders can be caused by many different factors, and could be described as extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic means the problem originated or developed form causes outside the body, for example, an alcohol problem. Intrinsic is when the problem develops within the body or arise from causes within the body such as narcolepsy. In addition, anxiety, involvement in stressful activities, clinical depression, and overuse of alcohol or drugs could cause someone not to get enough sleep. As well as something known as rebound effect which is withdrawn from sleep medication could affect someone sleep behavior. Sleep is a time of renewal that helps the body meet demands of the waking hour. Sleep is also a way to preserve energy because the body's metabolic rate goes down during sleep. Not being able to get enough sleep could be a problem to daily life task.

The Highway Safety Commission shows that 40,000 people die and 250,000 people are injured due to others falling asleep at the wheel. To maintain a healthy and safe environment for others as well as yourself, you need an adequate amount of sleep.