Sleep disorders are more common than people think and most people experience one or more sleep disorders at least once in their lives. There are over 70 known sleep disorders that are recognized though some say there could be more than 100. Sleep disorders are especially common in children, though they commonly self-resolve with age, and adults over 65. Often, sleep disorders are broken down into six main types: circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, insomnia, hypersomnia disorders, parasomnias, sleep-related breathing disorders, and sleep-related movement disorders. In this post, we’ll be discussing circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, insomnia, and hypersomnia disorders.

Sleep-Wake Disorders

Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders are characterized by some kind of interruption in the natural circadian sleep cycle. For example, we see this often with people who do shift work or have unpredictable work hours, and we often see this affecting people who have traveled from one time zone to another (jet lag). Less common forms of this sleep disorder are delayed sleep-wake disorder or advanced sleep-wake disorder. For those experiencing this disorder due to shift work, unfortunately the only way to really treat this is to have a more predictable work schedule. Having a regular sleep-wake cycle is the best way to deal with this type of sleep disorder, however that is not always an option for everyone.

Insomnia

Insomnia is the most well known sleep disorder with most people experiencing at least one episode of insomnia during their lifetime. It can be short term or it can be chronic. Chronic insomnia is diagnosed after a period of three months, with at least three instances of insomnia a week. It can involve delayed sleep onset (30 minutes or more to fall asleep), poor sleep maintenance (waking and being unable to fall back asleep after 30 minutes or more), or a combination of both. It can be very disruptive to a person’s life, involving the following symptoms or outcomes:

Irritability
Daytime sleepiness
Brain fog
Attention issues
More likelihood of mistakes while at work or driving
Can interfere with work or relationships

Insomnia can be related to many things and have many root causes. For example, it could be related to mood disorders, other mental health disorders, chronic illness, stress, or some medications. Alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine use (or other drug use), especially in the evening, can also contribute to insomnia.

However, insomnia is also very treatable! Lifestyle changes are usually the first recommendation, such as avoiding caffeine in the evening or avoiding naps. However, CBT-I is also an effective treatment for insomnia. CBT-I is cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and can help treat insomnia for those who have suffered with very long term chronic insomnia.

Hypersomnia

In contrast, hypersomnia sleep disorders involve excessive sleepiness. The most well-known form of hypersomnia is narcolepsy, but there are other disorders in this category, such as Kleine-Levin syndrome and insufficient sleep syndrome. The important thing to note is that those with hypersomnia do not necessarily sleep more than the average population when it comes to total hours of sleep. However, the sleep they do get is rarely refreshing, causing intense fatigue.

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that disrupts the sleep-wake cycle. It is characterized by extreme bouts of sleepiness. For some people, it can also involve sudden muscle weakness, especially during times of intense emotion (even when laughing!) known as cataplexy. Cataplexy can be dangerous because it can happen while driving or working, which can open up the possibility for serious injury.

While someone with narcolepsy may feel refreshed immediately after sleeping or taking a nap, the individual will soon become fatigued again and not feel rested. Other common symptoms of narcolepsy are sleep hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and issues with memory.

Thankfully, narcolepsy is treatable. Available treatments for narcolepsy include:

Stimulants – This is the first line of treatment for most people
SSRIs
Sodium oxybate (a medication for daytime sleepiness and cataplexy)
Maintaining a consistent sleep-wake schedule
Scheduling short, 20-minute naps through the day
Regular exercise
Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, especially in the evenings

Narcolepsy does not seem to have a hereditary component. Another recommendation for those who have narcolepsy is to seek accommodations at work or school. Narcolepsy is recognized by the ADA and a documented case of narcolepsy as diagnosed by a doctor must be accommodated in work or school settings within reason. Always discuss with a doctor what the options for these accommodations would be.

While these disorders are something most people experience, if they ever become a problem for you or someone you know, seek out help from a doctor or other professional (such as a therapist familiar with CBT-I in an insomnia case, for example) in order to treat them. Sleep disorders are often very treatable and many of the more disruptive symptoms can be dealt with under proper care.