Insomnia symptoms and substance abuse management in people

If you’ve ever struggled with insomnia or are currently struggling with it, you know that it can be extremely difficult to find methods that work long-term to help you sleep. While meditation, dietary restrictions, daily bedtime routines, certain over-the-counter remedies, and regular exercise may promote healthy sleep patterns, studies have shown that some insomniacs turn to alcohol as a sleep aid because of its sedating effects. Some insomnia symptoms contribute to your sleeplessness-

Although alcohol may promote early sedation or sleepiness, because of certain neurological effects, as well as its reinforcing properties, it could further disrupt the natural sleep cycle and, ultimately, lead to issues such as dependence or an alcohol use disorder.1 Studies have shown that 28% of insomniacs reported using alcohol to help them sleep. It was also reported that at 1-year follow-up, those who had reported 2 or more weeks of insomnia were more likely to have met the diagnostic criteria for alcoholism.

Whether you use alcohol occasionally or nightly to fall asleep, it’s important to know the risks associated with frequent alcohol use and how it may lead to a co-occurring disorder in the future.

What Is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty in falling asleep and/or staying asleep. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 40 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, and an additional 20 million report occasional sleep problems.

Individuals can have either short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) insomnia.

Acute insomnia generally lasts just a few days or weeks and is often related to stress, worry, or traumatic events. It is characterized as irregularities in the quality, quantity, or timing of sleep. Chronic insomnia can last for months or longer and is most often the result of other underlying issues such as drug or alcohol abuse, medical conditions, or as a side effect of some medications.

Insomnia can be diagnosed by a primary care physician who will look at medical and psychiatric history as well as issues in a person’s life that could contribute to the development of insomnia, such as work, relationships, new or ongoing forms of stress, as well as any tobacco, caffeine, or other substance use.4 You may also be asked to do a physical exam which may involve blood tests to rule out other medical issues that might cause the disorder.

Some patients may also undergo a polysomnogram (PSG) sleep study to more closely investigate whether an underlying sleep disorder is causing insomnia.4 This involves an overnight stay at a sleep center for physicians to record brain activity, heart rate, eye movements, and blood pressure. PSG also monitors how much air is moving through your nose while you breathe, the amount of oxygen in your blood, snoring, and chest movements to see whether an effort to breathe is being made.

Signs and Symptoms Of Insomnia

The most common symptom of insomnia is the inability to fall or stay asleep. Other symptoms may include:

    . Lying awake for long periods before you can fall asleep.

    . Sleeping for short periods.

    . Staying awake for much of the night.

    . Feeling like you haven’t slept when you awaken in the morning.

    . Waking up too early

Because lack of sleep can lead to other issues, insomnia may also cause individuals to experience feelings of anxiety, depression, or irritability.4 Sleepiness can also create dangerous situations such as dozing off while driving.4 Driver sleepiness is responsible for almost 20% of all serious car crash injuries not involving alcohol.

Insomnia Risk Factors

Several factors can increase a person’s risk for insomnia which include:3,4,5

Stress.

   . Substance use (e.g., alcohol, drugs, caffeine).

   . Depression or distressing emotional issues, such as those caused by the       death of a loved one.

   . Low income/financial worries.

   . Frequent shifts in work hours.

   . Traveling with time changes.

   . An inactive lifestyle.

These were some insomnia symptoms that can aggravate the condition.