Sleep disorders are a literal nightmare. Insomnia is one of them, where you can’t sleep for the most part. But, how do you know if you have insomnia and when to visit a sleep doctor? Here are some things you need to evaluate about yourself.

What Is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleeping disorder that causes your brain to stay awake. Patients suffering from insomnia, also called insomniacs, often have a very hard time falling asleep, even though they haven’t dozed off throughout the day. This can be hard for them because during the one time when they want to sleep, their brain and body are not cooperating and this causes people to get moody since they haven’t rested properly the night before.

Insomnia is tricky because it doesn’t have a specific cause and it can only ever be managed, not fully treated. This makes this sleep disorder very frustrating to deal with and a lot of people just seem to give up hope of ever having a good night’s rest.

Another thing that a lot of people tend to wonder is whether they even have insomnia or not. There are a lot of symptoms and signs that can indicate a person has insomnia, but sometimes it can be hard to navigate.

Signs You May Have Insomnia

If you are confused as to whether you have insomnia or not, then try to think the following things through the next time you have a hard time falling asleep.

You Can’t Sleep

The first thing is obvious, but it’s also one of the most important symptoms to look out for. You can’t sleep at night, even though you haven’t napped the rest of the day, you haven’t taken any stimulants, like caffeine or alcohol and you are following a routine.

This is frustrating and if everything seems alright and you still can’t fall asleep, then there’s a possibility of insomnia. You need to make an appointment with your doctor and figure things out.

You’re Tired, But Not Sleepy

Has this ever happened to you? You lay your head down on the pillow and you feel like your body is tired, but your mind isn’t. Your brain is wide awake and even though your body is feeling the fatigue, your mind is willing you to stay awake.

This is a huge sign of insomnia and it can cause a person to go down a spiral because it is just so hard to deal with your unsynchronized mind and body. You just don’t know what to do, when all you want to do is get some shut-eye.

You Have An Irregular Sleeping Pattern

This is probably the reason why insomnia tends to take root in a lot of people and that is not having a consistent sleeping schedule.

If your job is making you stay up at odd hours of the night and you’re constantly working in a different time zone, then this can mess up your circadian rhythm and it can cause you to either sleep late or not sleep at all. This is bad and you need to do something about it before it intensifies and you can’t get back to your normal sleeping routine.

You Worry About Falling Asleep

Most people don’t even think a lot when they hit the hay. But for insomniacs, this is a very different scenario. Their minds are a constant mess of worrying and anxious thoughts and they mostly revolve around the fact that whether they will be able to fall asleep or not.

This is very tiring for the brain and your already fatigued body and if you’re constantly thinking about whether you’ll be able to get any sleep, then that is not normal and it could indicate insomnia. The best way to go about this is to have yourself checked out by an insomnia doctor Frederick.

You Are Disturbed

This is also another huge issue that is not normal with just a night when you can’t seem to fall asleep. You are very disturbed mentally and all day you are tired and all night you are worried about falling asleep. This is not normal or healthy at all for you and your body, so you need to take this issue seriously.

It’s better to get a sleep study done and pinpoint exactly what is causing these disturbed thoughts to poke at you, especially at night, so that you can get to the bottom of the problem.

You Get Mood Swings

This is something that goes without saying, but yes, you will feel anxious and very moody, if you don’t get a good night’s rest. This is bad for your physical and mental health. Imagine if you haven’t gotten a good night’s rest. You will feel irritable and moody. So, it must be really hard for insomniacs to go through this every single day, without no reason.

If you’re feeling very moody and angry then it’s not a good sign at all and you need to go see a sleep doctor for your sleeping issues.

You Lose Focus

Sleep refreshes the brain from the inside out so that you are ready to face the day with a clear head. However, that isn’t the case, when you’re tossing and turning in bed all night, and not getting a wink of sleep. It’s really bad and you will not be able to get through the foggy haze of confusion and fatigue.

Your brain won’t be able to focus on anything and you’ll have a hard time trying to pin all of your attention on the task at hand. This is essentially going to ruin your school or work life, and it’s mainly because of insomnia. So, if you’re feeling like this, then it’s a sign that you need to see a doctor immediately.

Have Consistent Symptoms For At Least 3 Days Every Week For 3 Months

This is also a very important thing to note and this is what makes a simple bump in your sleeping schedule very frightening. If you experience the above-mentioned symptoms only once and that was because you either had too much coffee to drink after hours or you just came home from a long flight and are jet lagged, then that’s not insomnia.

However, if the symptoms carry on for 3 or more days every week for 3 months or it lasts consistently for a whole month, then this is very alarming and you need to go see a doctor immediately because it might be more than just a switch in your daily routine.

You Have Family History

Insomnia is also hereditary. If someone in your family has insomnia or sleeping issues, then it’s probable that you will get them too, especially if you’re not taking care of your sleep schedule.

This is why family history is often asked by doctors if you are someone belonging to a family with sleeping issues. This can help the doctor better understand the dynamic and propose management.

Conclusion

Insomnia, once diagnosed, is manageable, but it’s important that you know what you’re dealing with first. This guide will help you through. If you’re experiencing the symptoms mentioned above, then it’s better to consult a sleep specialist Chevy Chase to get diagnosed so a treatment plan can be made.