Insomnia
Insomnia is a common psychiatric condition that affects sleep for consecutive nights. It is typically characterised as trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep. Insomnia is classed as short-term if it persists for up to three months, or long-term if it lasts for over three months. It is estimated that around a third of people will experience insomnia at some point in their lives.
Insomnia can have a significant impact on quality of life and everyday activities, including work and your social life. These effects can include daytime tiredness, poor concentration, Depression and Anxiety, and poor performance at work.
What are the symptoms?
There are several signs that can help you or a specialist determine whether you have insomnia. A person is usually determined to have insomnia if they regularly:
- Find it hard to go to sleep
- Wake up several times during the night
- Lie awake at night
- Wake up early and can’t get back to sleep
- Still feel tired after waking up
- Feel tired and irritable during the day
- Find it difficult to concentrate during the day
Cause and treatment
Insomnia can be linked to a number of causes, including:
- Stress, Anxiety, or Depression
- Alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine
- An uncomfortable sleeping environment (e.g., noise, too hot/cold, uncomfortable bed)
- Jet lag
- Shift work
In many cases, Insomnia can be improved or treated using self-help techniques such as going to bed and waking up at the same time, relaxing for at least 1 hour before bed (e.g., take a bath, read a book), making sure your room is dark and quiet, and taking regular exercise during the day. Avoiding certain things, such as smoking or drinking alcohol or caffeine before bed, eating a lot late at night, and watching television/using phones before bed can also help.
In less mild cases of Insomnia, a number of other treatment options may be recommended:
- Over-the-counter sleep aids
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Referral to a sleep clinic
- Prescribed sleeping pills (in severe cases and only for a few days/weeks at a time)
Medical Cannabis and Insomnia
Current evidence suggests that medical cannabis products maybe useful in managing sleep problems, including Insomnia. This is largely believed to be due to the potential ability of cannabinoids to reduce stress and Anxiety.
Our specialist physicians are experienced in assessing individual cases and helping to determine whether medical cannabis could be an effective option.
