Sleep Disorders And Sleep Disorder Treatment

Sleep is a requirement that our body and nervous system, which gets tired throughout the day, rest and that we need for our physical and mental health. Sleep, which occupies more than a third of our lives, is not an interruption of our daily lives or a waste of time.

Sleep is an important part of mental life, as well as a process needed for hormonal regulation. There are over 80 types of sleeping sickness. The main sleep disorders are insomnia, inability to fall asleep, early waking, excessive sleepiness, sleepwalking, and restless legs syndrome.

 

Erdem Psychiatry Center  will be a good alternative for you. You can contact us for  sleep disorders and their treatment   . 

These cause a decrease in quality of life. Sleep disorders are a public health problem because they negatively affect the use of machinery and professional life. Sleep disorders such as insomnia and early waking can occur simultaneously with many psychological disorders or as a precursor to them.

What are Sleep Complaints?

Sleep complaints that cause people to consult a doctor are as follows.

1. I can’t fall asleep,
   2. I sleep too much,
   3. My sleep is frequently interrupted at night,
   4. I wake up jumping,
   5. I have scary dreams and nightmares at night,
   6. I can’t rest no matter how much I sleep,
   7. I feel very tired and sleepy during the day. ,
   8. I sleep even while sitting.
   9. My husband and brother snore so I can’t sleep.

How Much Should We Sleep?

The ideal sleep time is between 4-11 hours. This range varies from person to person. Sleep needs may vary depending on your age and how your daily life goes. The ideal sleep time is the time when a person feels fit when he wakes up. Sleep stages also vary accordingly. Some effects occur on the body of people who cannot sleep as much as they need for any reason. These:

 

1. The body’s defense against diseases decreases,
2. Resistance to psychological disorders weakens,
3. Stresshormone increases,
4. Irritability and intolerance increases,
5. Visual and speech disorders occur,
6. Blood sugar balance is disrupted,
7. Breathing-breathing balance is disrupted,
8. Body temperature drops,
9. Muscle strength decreases,
10. Forgetfulness occurs.

 

What are the Types of Sleep Disorders?

Sleep is a period of time when the body, which is tired throughout the day, and the worn-out nervous system take care of themselves to renew and rest. All problems or setbacks that occur during sleep are called sleep disorders . Other problems such as snoring, sleep apnea, and insomnia may be added to these problems. People with sleep disorders feel bad both physically and mentally throughout the day. You can get support from a psychiatrist for your sleep disorder. You can easily make an appointment at Erdem Psychiatry, the Red Crescent psychiatric center .

1. Insomnia

Insomnia is defined as difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, waking up earlier than normal, and being sleepy during the day. Anyone can experience insomnia for a few nights, but if this lasts for weeks or months, we can talk about insomnia or chronic insomnia. Insomnia can be caused by medication use, thyroid diseases, noise, light, chronic stress, depression and psychological reasons.

It is generally thought that this is caused by psychiatric disorders and is a secondary disorder that develops due to it. One in every three people has insomnia. Insomnia can occur at any age, but it is more common in women and older people.

Although its prevalence in society is high, the rate of consulting a physician is low. Since it may be a sign of a serious psychiatric disorder, it is necessary to monitor closely and consult a physician.

Sleep Apnea: People suffering from sleep disorders generally cannot fall asleep in inappropriate environments. If such a situation exists, the cause of insomnia is sleep apnea. Sleeping too much during the day, feeling tired, waking up with a headache, snoring, or feeling breathless while sleeping are symptoms of sleep apnea.

 

2. Excessive Sleepiness (Hypersomnia)

Hypersomnia, which means sleeping too much, is of two types: excessive sleepiness and the tendency to sleep during the day. It is usually seen simultaneously with other psychiatric disorders, but may occur when it precedes them. There are cases where it is not pathological. It may be related to a common condition in the family or personality traits. Hypersomnia may also develop due to lung, liver diseases, brain lesions or heart diseases. Therefore, patients with suspected hypersomnia are advised to consult a doctor.

Narcolepsy: It is the tendency to sleep excessively and have sleep attacks during the day. These short-term sleeps include falling asleep very quickly and seeing dreams or dream-like hallucinations. There is a weakening of the control of the muscles used when laughing or crying. Situations such as not being able to get up immediately when waking up in the morning and remaining motionless for a while are observed. Tests show that narcolepsy patients enter the phase called REM sleep much earlier than normal (in the first 5-10 minutes of sleep).

 

3. Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome is the most common sleep movement disorder. Patients feel the need to move their legs while sleeping or at rest. Although the symptoms vary from person to person, patients generally describe them with expressions such as tingling and numbness. Disturbing effects like those on the legs can also be seen in the arms. Continuing to lie still increases this feeling. That’s why they try to relieve this feeling, even if only for a short time, by moving and stretching their legs.

While this may occur every night in some patients, it may occur every few nights in others. It causes a decrease in sleep quality and negatively affects social life. They may have difficulty in places such as meetings, cinemas and theaters where they have to sit still. Poor quality sleep and sleep disruption can lead to anxiety or depression.

 

4. Dream Distress Disorder

Anyone can have bad dreams while sleeping. However, normally these dreams should not wake people up and they do not tend to recur. Frequently having scary dreams while sleeping and waking up terrified may be a sign of dream distress disorder. When they wake up from sleep, they immediately realize that they are dreaming. However, the high tendency for this to recur reduces sleep quality and negatively affects social and professional life.

 

5. Sleepwalking 

It is usually seen in children around the age of 10. It usually occurs in the first third of sleep, right after falling asleep. Gets out of bed and makes some automatic movements. He can only get out of bed, take a few steps, get dressed and go to the toilet. Or he may perform complex tasks such as moving things around or leaving the house.

This situation may cause some injuries and precautions must be taken. However, it is generally not seen as a condition that requires treatment or as a sign of another disorder. Its incidence decreases with age, and although rare, it can also be seen in adults.

6. Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis is colloquially called “nightmare”. It is a condition in which the body remains temporarily motionless immediately after waking up or, rarely, during the process of falling asleep. In this case, people cannot move their bodies even though they are conscious. Hallucinations may also occur with this condition. These hallucinations may cause the person to think that the current situation is a normal dream. That’s why many people report having dreams in which they cannot move. These hallucinations can sometimes cause imaginary things to be seen in the room.

 

What Should You Do for a Good Sleep?

1. Don’t go to bed until you feel sleepy. Do relaxing things that will help you take your mind off your sleep-related worries until you feel sleepy. You can read a book or listen to light music.
2. If you cannot sleep within the first 20 minutes, get out of bed and out of your bedroom. Your bedroom should be the place you go just to sleep. You can do non-stimulating tasks in another room until you feel sleepy, and then go back to bed when you feel sleepy.
3. Do relaxing things like warm bath, yoga, meditation before going to bed every night.
4. Get up at the same time every day. Try to stick to a regular sleep schedule. Follow this schedule on weekends and holidays, too.
5. Avoid daytime naps if possible.
6. Follow a regular diet plan. Try to keep your body clock working properly when it comes to eating, drinking and moving.
7. Make sure your bedroom is quiet, cool and dark.
8. Do not eat or take nicotine right before going to bed.
9. Do not consume caffeine in the afternoon.
10. Do not consume alcoholic beverages for 6 hours before bedtime.
11. Avoid heavy exercise, workouts and stressful activities for 4-5 hours before bedtime. Prefer morning hours for sports and exercises.
12. Avoid sleeping pills and sedatives.
13. If your snoring is light, lie on your side.
14. Women who suffer from insomnia due to pregnancy can make it easier to fall asleep by drinking warm milk, taking a hot bath in the evening and regular exercises. It can support the head, abdomen and knees with a pillow.

 

Why Do Sleep Disorders Occur?

In fact, sleep disorders depend on many factors. However, some factors have become very common today. First of all, we can say that the thing that has the biggest impact on sleep disorders is alcohol. Since the brains of people who consume alcohol do not get enough rest, your body’s sleep cycle is disrupted.

Another common factor, unlike alcohol, is depression or stress. Stress is a condition that affects the human body greatly. During stressful times, it makes it difficult for you to fall asleep because the brain is constantly trying to solve the problem that is the source of stress. To handle these stresses, you can come to our Ankara Psychologist Clinic  and get support from us.

Unlike stress and alcohol, if you consume too much stimulant (especially caffeine), it becomes difficult to fall asleep or have a comfortable sleep. It would be better for you to reduce the use of such stimulants or not use them at all.

 

When Should You Consult a Doctor for Your Sleep Problem?

1. If methods such as washing, cutting down on caffeine consumption, and exercising do not work,
2. If you think there is a psychological disorder (such as depression, anxiety) underlying your sleep problem,
3. If you believe that heart disease lies behind your sleep problems,
4. If you snore excessively,
5. If you feel breathless while sleeping,
6. If you fall asleep while doing your daily activities (talking, reading the newspaper, etc.),
7. If your falling asleep situation has become a public health problem (such as falling asleep while driving),
8. If you feel tired when you wake up,
9. If you wake up with a headache,
10. If you think that a medication you use is causing sleep problems, you should consult a doctor.

If your sleep problems have existed for more than 1 month and are affecting your daily life, it would be appropriate for you to consult a specialist doctor. Your medical history, physical examination, and some blood tests are helpful in revealing some causes of insomnia. Your bed partner and other family members may have valuable information about your sleep.

Ask them if you snore or lie restless during sleep. Provide all information about sleep to the doctor you consult for  sleep disorders .

After certain tests and conclusions, your doctor may prescribe sleeping pills or inform you about some type of therapy. Sleeping pills are medications that send signals to your brain to sleep. Thanks to these medications,  you can have a more comfortable sleep  . However, if you have movement disorders or other symptoms during sleep, different medications and methods may be recommended.

 

How to Treat Sleep Disorders?

First of all, it would be more appropriate for you to consult a specialist for sleep disorders . However, there are a few methods you can do to sleep more comfortably.

 

Exercise regularly: 

If you exercise regularly, your body secretes happiness hormones. While the happiness hormone reduces stress and unhappiness, it will help you have a positive outlook on life. Additionally, since your body will be tired after exercise, you will be able to fall asleep comfortably.

 

Purify your room from light and sound:

It is very important that your room is dark and quiet. You can use thick curtains to keep your room dark. For the silence of your room, it will be beneficial for you to be away from traffic or noise.

 

Be programmatic:

Having the same bedtime and wake-up time will make it much easier for you to fall asleep. If you accustom your body to certain hours, it will be much easier for you to sleep or wake up at those hours.

 

Sleep is a sensitive issue, and the sleep we get is what provides our energy in our daily lives. When sleep disturbance becomes persistent, it can become a really big problem. Therefore, in order not to risk your own health and to wake up to an energetic morning, you can get help from our team of expert and experienced psychiatrists. Remember, the golden rule of having a happy and beautiful day is to have a good sleep.

When you want to consult a doctor for sleep disorders,  you can come to Ankara Psychiatry Center Erdem Psychiatry clinic. However, if the problem is snoring or sleep apnea, you need to go to the ear-nose-throat department. When you go to the doctor with a sleep disorder , he first tries to understand the cause of the sleep disorder.

For this, he or she may refer you to a sleep clinic. A sleep clinic is recommended especially for sleep disorders caused by sleep apnea, narcolepsy and heart diseases.

When you stay at the sleep clinic for one or two nights, your heartbeat, brain, and breathing are observed. The necessary sleep disorder test is performed. It can be concluded that your sleep disorder is caused by psychological reasons, stress factors, a biological disease, excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption, your lifestyle or the medications you use.