Insomnia

Pseudoinsomnia remains a puzzle for sleep researchers. While the prefix "pseudo" indicates a false impression of sleeplessness, there is a possibility that current monitoring technologies like the EEG may not differentiate clearly enough between sleeping and waking states. Further complications involve variations in sleep needs from person to person. Everyone has heard that Einstein was fond of naps but Thomas Edison hardly slept at all.

Is one person's good night's rest another person's waste of time? Self-described "night owls" function better by working evening shifts and sleeping daytime, but this can be debilitating for "larks" or morning people. Some individuals operate on a 25-hour circadian rhythm, which does not synch with 24-hour clock time.

Self-administered sleep aids can sometimes backfire on an insomniac. Alcohol can at first lull you to sleep, but habitual use of this depressant can in turn further disrupt your sleeping patterns. A vicious cycle may soon surface, in which increased use of sleep aids like over-the-counter pills and/or alcohol contributes only to worsening the original condition.

An alternative which does not resort to prescription drugs is known as sleep hygiene. This regimen of behavior modification is designed to lessen exposure to stress and improve the patient's attitude towards sleeping and waking. A "sleep log" is kept to help a therapist pinpoint the probable causes of the patient's insomnia. Then self-monitoring is encouraged, so the patient learns to avoid excitement or heavy meals before bed, curtail the use of stimulants and depressants, and avoid naps. More experimental modification techniques like biofeedback may also be prescribed. Sleep hygiene programs are thereby tailored to individual needs.