Not being able to sleep properly on a regular basis can be a sign of a medical problem. If you do not get enough sleep on a long-term basis, you will suffer because of this. Your system can not go without proper levels of sleep for long periods of time.
If you find that occasionally you cannot sleep the chances are you are not suffering from a sleep disorder. If you are nervous about a job interview, not being able to sleep well the night before is normal. Likewise, if you are excited about something, like going on holiday, not being able to sleep the night before is not uncommon.
However, if on a regular basis, you go to sleep, but take a long time to fall asleep you could be suffering from a sleep disorder. Before jumping to the conclusion that you have a sleep problem eradicate obvious causes. Remove all sources of background noise, if you need to use earplugs to do this, do so. Ensure that the light levels in the room you sleep in are right. If you have to wear eye shields, do so. Do not retire for the night too hungry, thirsty or with a bladder that is not empty.
Some kinds of sleep disorder allow you to fall asleep without any problems, but cause you to wake up too early. If this happens, eliminate obvious causes of this. For example, consider whether the dawn is waking you up, getting heavier curtains can solve this problem or eliminate it as a potential cause.
The most commonly missed sign of a sleep disorder is waking up feeling tired. If this is happening, you could be waking up during the night for very short periods without realising you are doing so.
If you cannot identify why you cannot sleep and cannot do so on a regular basis you are probably suffering from a sleep disorder with a medical cause. It isn’t something you ought to ignore untreated sleep problems have a tendency to become worse, over time. Semi regular issues sleeping can turn into a long-term habit if you are not careful meaning falling or staying asleep is a problem every week. You can try over-the-counter treatments, but if these do not work quickly you should consult your GP. Do so within a month or so, do not wait several months to seek help with sleep disorders.
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