Healthy sleep is a critical determinant of physical and emotional health.
The amount of sleep we all need will vary from person to person, but studies have suggested that people who sleep longer than nine hours and less than four hours per night have impaired health.
Although all of us will struggle with sleep from time to time, ongoing and severe sleep difficulties could be indicative of a sleeping disorder.
To be diagnosed as a sleeping disorder, these difficulties cannot be caused by another mental health disorder, a physical condition or a substance. Sleeping disorders are broadly categorised into two main groups. The first group (dyssomnia) generally includes difficulties like insomnia (not being able to fall asleep), narcolepsy (falling asleep involuntarily) or sleep apnoea (breathing related sleeping difficulties).
The second group (parasomnia) generally includes sleeping difficulties associated with night terrors and sleep-walking. If you feel you may be experiencing a sleep disorder it is important to seek the support of a health care practitioner, like your general practitioner of a specialist, like a psychiatrist.
These practitioners will be able to make a diagnosis and guide you on the appropriate treatment plan.
