Insomnia; very few of us have not suffered from the insidious effects of long and sleepless nights. Sleep deprivation is one of the most self-medicated conditions with millions of pounds spent annually on over-the-counter sales. We know that disturbed or insufficient sleep results in impairment in cognitive and motor performance and a general lowering of many of the body’s systems. The evidence shows that chronic sleep deprivation can lead to illness and psychological disturbances. It is an unchecked epidemic on a global scale.
In the UK alone, it’s been estimated that sleep deprivation costs the economy over £30 billion a year in lost revenue. The impact of this on all generations, despite the findings from sleep clinics, universities and research, is yet to be seen as such by industry, our education system or government. Perhaps the vast economic impact will finally catalyse the government to act.
Sleep deprivation is common amongst teenagers and university students. The long hours of study resulting in lack of sleep lead to poor academic performance and often this leads to depression and psychological problems. Neither are schools, for the most part, addressing this problem. From research, it is evident that teaching deep relaxation techniques, meditation and forms of stretching therapies such as Pilates, Yoga and Tai Chi, bring relief to those who suffer anxiety and stress, which are causal factors.
Long-term sleep loss has been studied for many years with the results giving new insight into conditions that are associated with older members of the population. The NHS states that studies show ‘regular poor sleep puts you at risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes with chronic sleep debt maybe leading to long-term mood disorders like depression and anxiety”. Increasingly, studies are showing links to Alzheimer’s, some types of cancer and memory loss.
There are many causes of sleep loss: anxiety, loneliness, depression, night-time light pollution, working for too long hours, alcohol, caffeine consumption, lack of exercise – to name but a few. When sleep deprivation becomes a pattern, the medication available through GPs can become a subtle and addictive danger and doesn’t address the cause. Complementary therapies work for some and not for others.
Some simple changes you can make are: Deep relaxation can begin to clear our overstressed bodies and to reset the rhythms that underpin our health and well-being. It is up to each person to find out what helps them to have a good night’s sleep and what habits to discard.
- Go to bed at the same time each day and avoid daytime naps
- Make sure your bedroom is dark enough, quiet and cool
- Avoid all stimulants in the hours before bedtime, including computer screens, phones, etc
- Make the decision and act on it, to begin some sort of practice that gives your mind and body a time of deep relaxation once a day – and this doesn’t mean a nap!
Deep relaxation can begin to clear our overstressed bodies and to reset the rhythms that underpin our health and well-being. It is up to each person to find out what helps them to have a good night’s sleep and what habits to discard.