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When Sleep Goes Wrong

Sleep is essential to the well-being of a normal healthy human. Lack of sleep can cause emotional difficulties as well as intellectual road blocks. People who do not get enough sleep will not function or perform to the best of their abilities. Severe sleep deprivation can cause more serious problems. Psychosis, while temporary, can be attributed to sleep deprivation. Sleep needs and even the ability to sleep changes with age and stage of life. Newborn babies sleep sixteen or more hours per day, even if it doesn't seem like it to their exhausted parents. Quality sleep is also important. Interrupted sleep is not as beneficial as continuous sleep. There are several sleep disorders that are related to other aspects of a person's life. A sleep disorder can occur due to another medical condition, a mental disorder, or may also be substance induced. When none of those things are the cause, sleep disorders can be very frustrating. The following six sleep disorders are somewhat common in the general population and often require a person to seek help.

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder

Circadian rhythms have to do with a person's system matching itself to the light and dark cycles of the earth's rotation. When it is daytime, people are typically awake. When it is nighttime, people sleep. Some people's rhythms keep them awake at irregular times. Some people are naturally night people, while others are morning people. If an individual is deeply grounded in their own rhythms, work schedule requirements may severely disrupt their preferred sleep times. Even people with typical circadian rhythms may have a hard time working night shifts or rotating shifts for their jobs.

Primary Insomnia

Insomnia is characterized by an overwhelming difficulty falling asleep or maintaining sleep. In order to be classified as Primary Insomnia, sleep difficulties cannot be caused by any outside source. It can be caused by poor sleep habits, but may continue for an extended period of time regardless of attempts to correct the problem.

Primary Hypersomnia

Even after what seems to be continuous and quality sleep, people with hypersomnia are still exhausted. They may even drift of during the day at improper times because of the extended exhaustion. These people have a hard time waking up and are always ready to go back to sleep. The sleepiness is not caused by lack of sleep, but does require treatment.

Nightmare Disorder

Not just any nightmare qualifies as a disorder. Nightmare Disorder describes a condition in which a person is consistently and frequently awakened by frightening dreams. The dreams happen often enough so as to disrupt normal functioning even during the day because of lack of sleep.

Sleep Terror Disorder

Sleep terrors are not dreams. They usually do not even waken their victims. It is the other people in the house who are disturbed by the unexpected middle of the night screams. The person with the disorder is usually not awakened or disturbed, but treatment will help the rest of the people in the house sleep through the night.

Sleepwalking Disorder

Occasional sleepwalking probably happens to a large portion of the population. The disorder is diagnosed when the sleepwalking is frequent and threatens danger. A sleepwalker who also drives is dangerous to himself and others.

As with most disorders, the only reason to be concerned by any of the above situations is if they affect daily life and functioning. Lack of sleep or excessive tiredness and even occasional nighttime antics are natural phenomena. They should only cause concern if they disrupt daily routines or cause severe discomfort or potential danger.

Frances, Allen MD and First, Michael B. MD. Your Mental Health: A Layman's Guide to

the Psychiatrist's Bible. New York: Scribner, 1998.