An expert in sleep patterns has highlighted that individuals who wake up during the night may unknowingly be engaging in behaviors that exacerbate the issue, leading to heightened feelings of exhaustion throughout the day. This ongoing problem can significantly impact daily life.
Sleep disturbances are a common issue experienced by a significant portion of the adult population in the UK. Figures from the NHS Inform website suggest that about one in three adults regularly face challenges with sleep, such as struggling to fall asleep, remaining awake at night, and frequently waking up during the night.
Kathryn Pinkham, a former NHS practitioner who specializes in treating insomnia, emphasized the prevalence of ‘sleep maintenance insomnia,’ a condition that causes individuals to wake up in the middle of the night. Factors like anxiety, chronic pain, and hormonal changes are common triggers for this issue, which can have detrimental effects on daily functioning as reported by the Express.
Pinkham explained that individuals with this type of insomnia often feel extremely fatigued but struggle to break the cycle their bodies have adapted to as ‘normal’. She elaborated that our bodies quickly establish patterns, regardless of whether they are beneficial or harmful, and tend to adhere to these repetitive behaviors.
Various factors, including psychological elements like stress and depression, or physical causes such as chronic pain or sleep apnoea, can contribute to episodes of insomnia during the night. Pinkham cautioned that certain lifestyle choices, like consuming caffeine or alcohol in the evening, or maintaining irregular sleep patterns, may exacerbate these disturbances.
Insomnia is characterized as a recurring sleep issue rather than an isolated incident of poor sleep quality, according to information from the NHS website. Addressing insomnia typically involves adjusting sleep habits rather than relying on medication. Pinkham stressed the importance of recognizing and modifying unhelpful patterns to re-train the body clock and prevent disruptive early morning awakenings.
In managing insomnia, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often recommended, either through in-person sessions with a therapist or via online self-help programs. This approach focuses on altering thoughts and behaviors that hinder restful sleep.
Medical professionals now tend to avoid prescribing sleeping pills for insomnia treatment due to the potential for serious side effects and dependency. In cases of severe insomnia resistant to other treatments, short-term use of sleeping medication may be considered.
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