Can’t Sleep? You May Not Be The Only One

By Khadija Farah
kfarah@smu.edu

It has been more than three weeks and she still cannot seem to fall asleep. Sarah Behrens lies restless in her bed, trying desperately to fall into unconsciousness.

“It’s getting ridiculous,” Behrens, a junior engineering major at SMU, said.

Like many university students, Behrens suffers from insomnia. Dictionary.com defines insomnia as the “inability to obtain the amount of sleep needed for optimal functioning.”

“I can’t concentrate in class anymore,” Behrens said.

According to neurologist Dr. Samir Shah, insomnia is not a disease but a symptom of another problem.
There are three different forms of insomnia: transient, acute, and chronic. All forms are classified based on the duration of the problem.

“Transient insomnia lasts a few days to a week,” Dr. Shah said. “It is also most common among college students.”

Transient insomnia is caused by a temporary situation such as a stressful event, changes in environment, or disruption of one’s normal sleep cycle. Although transient insomnia only lasts a few days, it can occur multiple times during a person’s lifetime.

“[Transient insomnia] can also be the result of an illness,” Dr. Shah said.

Acute insomnia occurs when people remain sleepless for three weeks to three months or more. Sufferers are unable to fall and stay asleep.

“I can lie in my bed for hours and still be wide awake,” an irritated Behrens said.

Behrens is well into her third week without sleep, making her insomnia acute, according to Dr. Shah.

“Acute insomnia in college students is usually the result of high stress levels,” Dr. Shah said.

Chronic or long-term insomnia can last from a few months to years. Unlike transient and acute insomnia, chronic insomniacs have been known to have a heightened sense of awareness.

“It is like the world is moving in slow motion compared to them,” Dr. Shah said.

Behrens is not alone in her struggle to overcome insomnia. According to the Mayo Clinic Web site, “more than one third of adults have insomnia at some time, while 10 to 15 percent report chronic insomnia.”

“If left untreated, insomnia gets in the way of daily functioning,” Dr. Shah said.

Recent studies conducted by neuroscientists at the University of Pennsylvania state that “lack of sleep disrupts a specific brain molecule that controls memory.”

In addition, the studies suggest that sleep depravation interrupts the storage of episodic memories. Episodic memories are information about who, what, when, and where.

Most importantly, lack of sleep is said to increase the risk of catching a cold. According to a recent New York Times article, “mammals that require the most sleep also produce greater levels of disease-fighting white blood cells.”

Insomnia can be frustrating and many resort to sleep aids in hopes of getting even a few hours of shut-eye. There is one problem with sleeping medication, however—it can be highly addictive.

“Sometimes we get people who end up being addicted to their sleep aids,” Dr. Shah said. “Then you not only have the insomnia but an addiction to kick.”

Some are drawn to medicine such as Ambien but others choose more drastic methods to get rid of insomnia. Most famously, Michael Jackson died from a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol (also known as Diprivan), which he reportedly received because of his chronic insomnia.

“Don’t even try it,” Dr. Shah said. “Anesthesia should be administered in the hospital.”

However, insomnia is not a permanent condition, and symptoms can be alleviated and eventually cured.

“It is important to treat insomnia early before it becomes a serious issue,” Dr. Shah said. “There are simple things you can do to resolve the problem.”

First, one must a set wake up time every day and stay within fifteen minutes of that time. This means the snooze button should become your enemy.

Dr. Shah suggests that the average adult get between seven and eight hours of sleep each night and to avoid stressful activities in the evening.

“Yes, that means laying off the late night cram sessions,” Dr. Shah said.

Don’t eat too close to your bedtime. According to Dr. Shah, digestion patterns can cause the body to remain awake even if you want to sleep.

“That’s a tough one,” says Amina Igeh, a visiting student from Princeton who admits that a feeding schedule would be difficult to adhere to. “I eat pretty much whenever I want.”

Contrary to popular belief among college students, naps are not the best way to catch up on sleep. Naps affect what Dr. Shah calls the “body clock.” The body clock dictates when and how well you sleep. Therefore, avoid napping during the day as naps decrease your sleep needs at night.

Finally, avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime.

“Alcohol actually interferes with sleep,” Dr. Shah said. “It does not produce lasting sleep. Often, people end up waking up after two or three hours.”

If you have trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor before the condition worsens.