It’s not uncommon for people to have issues with sleep. Most will get back to regular sleep patterns sooner rather than later.

What if the difficulty with sleep does not stop?

What if sleep problems go on and on?

Impaired sleep is a threat to a person’s general well-being and ability to function. The typical name for this problem is insomnia. Sleep disturbance is so important that it really should be addressed sooner rather than later.

Impaired sleep, at a minimum, can impact your memory, your ability to think, your job performance, how you interact and socialize with other people, and daytime sleepiness, not to mention a long list of health problems. The persistent disturbed sleep that is insomnia may be expected to have an impact that lasts a long time.

What seems to cause insomnia problems?

There are many. A predisposing factor can be genetics, or being highly aroused, highly alert, upset, agitated, are just overstimulated. The inability to stop thinking, called cognitive hyperactivity, makes a person vulnerable to disordered sleep.

The brain may be too active for sleeping, then not active enough during the day. That can result in fatigue during the day. Work issues, school issues, relationship problems, family problems, health problems with the self or a significant other can result in being hyperaroused. Going over and over problems (worrying), or dealing with the consequences of unrealistic expectations that did not work out can be other causes.

There are many more contributors to problematic sleep. There does not seem to be any age group that is not vulnerable to insomnia. Researchers suggest that anywhere between 15 and 35 percent of infants can have a sleep disturbance for a variety of reasons.

Toddlers can have disturbed sleep which can include too little or too much sleep, sleep talking or sleepwalking, nightmares, bedwetting, or simply being overtired. Children and teens have similar consequences which can include difficulty falling asleep, difficulty waking up, sleepiness during the day, poor school performance, depressed mood, irritability, and car accidents if they are old enough to drive.

Things are not easier for adults. Sleep problems in adulthood can have both short and long-term consequences. The impact can affect alertness, memory, attention, work performance, depression problems, and health.

People aged 40 and up may experience frequent waking-up at night, difficulty maintaining sleep, and development of mental health and medical problems. As you get older there is also an increased risk of falling. The most readily available therapy for insomnia includes various medications and over-the-counter products.

A typical medication affects the neurotransmitter GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid). Your medical provider has a whole range of these products, and others. There are also a variety of psychological therapies that are available for sleep disorders.

One is Stimulus Control Therapy which was developed expressly for insomnia. It involves making the bed and bedroom specific triggers for sleep. Sleep Restriction Therapy limits time in bed and creates a specific sleep-wake schedule. Cognitive Therapy focuses on inaccurate and flawed thinking regarding sleep.

Thinking can be a source of, and then maintain insomnia. Remember that worry is endlessly thinking about a problem, which maintains the feelings that will not let you sleep.

Relaxation training reduces the arousal that keeps you up. There are other psychological therapies that can also help. Insomnia can be treated.

As demonstrated above, there is help available. You can use a medical approach, a psychological approach, or both at the same time. Find what works for you, and stick to it. Getting a consistent pattern of regular restorative sleep is worth the effort it takes to overcome the reason for the impaired sleep.

— Dr. Joseph Switras provides clinical psychological services at United Health District in Fairmont to people age 5 and up.