Insomnia Specialist

What’s insomnia?

Although insomnia symptoms can vary from person to person, the condition is generally defined as either having difficulty falling asleep, or being unable to stay asleep. Most people experience short-term insomnia at least once in their life, and it’s typically brought on by stress or a traumatic event. But for the unlucky people who have chronic insomnia (which lasts for a month or longer), the condition can wreak havoc on daily life. People with chronic insomnia may experience any of the following symptoms:

• Low energy
• Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
• Irritability
• Depression or anxiety
• Difficulty focusing
• Memory problems

What causes insomnia?

Some of the most common causes of long-term insomnia include stress, traumatic life events, and ongoing habits that disrupt a normal sleep cycle. Psychological stress caused by daytime concerns such as work, finances, or health can keep your mind going and make it difficult to fall asleep. The same holds true for traumatic events, which make it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. Poor sleep habits that can lead to insomnia include:

• Not having a regular bedtime
• Daytime napping
• Doing something stimulating right before bed
• Working, eating, or watching TV in the bedroom
• Consuming too much caffeine during the day

Sometimes, insomnia can be a symptom or byproduct of another condition, such as anxiety, PTSD, or depression. Certain medical conditions and medications can also interfere with sleep.

Why is treatment important?

Even if you usually have enough energy and stamina to get through each day after waking in the night or taking hours to fall asleep, insomnia isn’t something to take lightly. Sleep is essential to your overall health, and sleep loss can take its toll, both mentally and physically. The complications of having insomnia impact your life: You may not perform as well on the job, you may have a slower reaction time while driving, and you could be at a higher risk of developing a serious illness or condition, such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Addiction
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease

As a psychiatrist who specializes in treating sleep disorders, Dr. Shakil has the skills and experience to effectively assess your sleep problem and help you take the needed steps to resolve it.