Is Chronic Insomnia Dangerous?

Author: Rene Graeber

Chronic insomnia usually happens because there are s
ome underlying ailments that may trigger sleepless nights. It usually arises from asthma, some mental disorders, arthritis, constant back pains, and so on. The difference between chronic insomnia and acute insomnia is that the latter does not need any underlying reasons and it strikes only so often.

Is chronic insomnia dangerous? Take a look at this example: the child suffers from chronic insomnia and every night she finds it difficult to go to sleep. Oftentimes she is up the whole night, playing computer games or watching TV. As the child´s mind does not rest, the child finds it difficult to concentrate during the daytime. Soon she starts yelling at people, especially if they ask her to handle some task or becomes extremely frustrated at school, here's where the first problems begin. The more time the child suffers from insomnia, the worse the results, up to the point of dropping out (or being expelled) of school. As you see, chronic insomnia is more than the lack of sleep, there is much more than that. If the child does not receive any help, she will begin enduring severe health problems: chest pains, nervous disorders are among the less acute.

If not treated, chronic insomnia may lead to heart strokes, high blood pressure, diabetes, and eventually to premature death. The lack of sleep causes the mind and body to cease function as soon as any problems arise. The deterioration, health and mental, is prolonged but steady, slowly making its way toward the end.

Chronic insomnia treatment should be started from finding out what the problem is by searching for professional medical treatment. If the doctor can't find any physiological reasons triggering insomnia (uncommon, but possible), then seeking out a psychologist is the next necessary step.

There are lots of mental disorders and ailments that may be responsible for insomnia. Post-Traumatic Stress Disease (PTSD), various sleeping disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or such problems as schizophrenia, some psychoses, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Impulsive Control Disorder (ICD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), all of them may be an underlying cause of chronic insomnia.

The point is that the underlying sources of insomnia have to be treated before it is possible to cure the insomnia itself. This may require pharmacological treatment or a psychotherapy. For the better part of the treatment, most of the work is up to the doctor who will need to create a working strategy which may require the patient to setup a schedule for dieting or exercise, but will also bring fast results.

However if a patient is found having Antisocial Personality Disorders, Oppositional Defiant, schizophrenia, severe psychosis of one kind of another or any other major mental disorders, he will need a constant advisor, because such patients are able to become violent for no reason at all. Especially if the patient is suffering from chronic insomnia, his mind is prone to falling apart at any time and for any reason. In such case a long-term psychotherapy and may be even inpatient care will be necessary

The Common Symptoms of Chronic Insomnia – Nervousness – Anxiety – Attacks of panic for small reasons or no reason at all – Problems with concentration – Increasing frustration – Increased aggression level – Incoherent thoughts – Periodic hyperactivity or restlessness – Problems with following even the simplest directions – Increased muscles' tension – Feelings of indifference

If you or your loved ones show any of the symptoms above, you have to seek out some professional help: immediately.

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