Sleep Disorders

On this Page

• Definition
• How Common are sleep disorders?
• Symptoms
• Causes
• Why In Touch Counseling Services?

What are sleep disorders?

Sleep disorders are conditions that involve problems with the quality, timing, and amount of sleep  which often result in daytime sleepiness, impairment in functioning when awake and other symptoms.  A sleep disorder can undermine your overall health, safety and quality of life.

How common are sleep disorders?

 There are more than 100 million Americans of all ages who are not getting an adequate amount of sleep.

What are common types of sleeping disorders?

• Insomnia- involves problems getting to sleep or staying asleep 
• Sleep apnea-is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep.
• Restless legs syndrome-is ccharacterized by an intense,  overwhelming need to move the legs.
• Parasomnias- are a group of unusual sleep behaviors that can occur before falling asleep, during sleep, or in the transition between sleep and wakefulness. They include:
  • sleepwalking
  • sleep talking
  • groaning
  • nightmares
  • bedwetting
  • teeth grinding or jaw clenching
• Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder of sleep regulation that is affects the control of sleep and wakefulness.  This means that you will suddenly feel extremely tired and fall asleep without warning.

What are the symptoms of sleep disorders?

Symptoms of sleep disorders differ depending on the severity and type of sleeping disorder however, some of the general symptoms of sleep disorders include:

• difficulty falling or staying asleep
• daytime fatigue
• strong urge to take naps during the day
• unusual breathing patterns
• unusual or unpleasant urges to move while falling asleep
• unusual movement or other experiences while asleep
• unintentional changes to your sleep/wake schedule
• irritability or anxiety
• impaired performance at work or school
• lack of concentration
• depression
• weight gain

What causes sleep disorders?

Sleep problems can be linked to various factors. Although causes might differ, the end result of all sleep disorders is that the body's natural cycle of slumber and daytime wakefulness is disrupted or exaggerated. Eight factors include:

• Physical (such as ulcers, heart disease, lung disease, nerve disorders, and pain).
• Medical (such as asthma).
• Psychiatric (such as depression and anxiety disorders).
• Environmental (such as caffeine and alcohol).
• Working the night shift (this work schedule messes up “biological clocks.”)
• Genetics (narcolepsy is genetic).
• Medications (some interfere with sleep).
• Aging (about half of all adults over the age of 65 have some sort of sleep disorder. It is not clear if it is a normal part of aging or a result of medicines that older people commonly use).