Insomnia is defined as the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Common symptoms include difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night, and waking up early in the morning. Insomnia can be caused by physical health conditions like heart disease or respiratory illnesses, as well as stress, anxiety, and mood disorders. Prescription medications and substances like caffeine can also cause insomnia. Treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy to change unhelpful sleep habits, sleeping pills in severe or short-term cases, and melatonin which is a natural hormone that helps regulate sleep cycles.

1. Insomnia
Inability or struggle to fall asleep/remain sleeping
Insomnia comes from the Latin words for “no sleep.”

2. SYMPTOMS
Your age, lifestyle, environment and diet
all play a part in influencing the amount
of sleep you need.
The most common symptoms of insomnia
are:
• difficulty falling asleep
• waking up during the night
• waking up early in the morning
• feeling irritable and tired and finding it
difficult to function during the day

3. CAUSES
Insomnia can be caused by underlying physical
conditions, including:
• Heart disease
• Respiratory disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease or asthma
• Neurological disease, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's
disease
• Hormone problems, such as an overactive thyroid
• Joint or muscle problems, such as arthritis
• Problems with the genital or urinary organs, such as urinary
incontinence or an enlarged prostate
• Sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy
or sleep apnoea

4. CAUSES
Stress and anxiety are common causes of
insomnia.
It is also possible to develop insomnia as a
result of conditions such as;
• Mood disorders e.g. depression or bipolar
disorder
• Anxiety disorders e.g. generalised
anxiety, panic disorder or post-traumatic
stress disorder
• Psychotic disorder e.g. schizophrenia

5. CAUSES
Some prescribed treatments or medicines that are available over
the counter can cause insomnia. These include:
• Antidepressants
• Epilepsy medicine
• Medication for high blood pressure (hypertension), such
as beta-blockers
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Stimulant drugs, such as methylphenidate, which is often used
to treat ADHD or modafinil, which is used to treat narcolepsy
• Some medicines that are used to treat asthma, such as
salbutamol, salmeterol and theophylline

6. TREATMENTS
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) aims to change unhelpful
thoughts and behaviours that may be contributing to your
insomnia. CBT is usually recommended if you've had sleep
problems for more than four weeks.
• Sleeping tablets (hypnotics) may be considered:
if your symptoms are particularly severe
to help ease short-term insomnia
if the non-drug treatments fail to have an effect
• Benzodiazepines are tranquillisers that are designed to reduce
anxiety and promote calmness, relaxation and sleep. All
benzodiazepines make you feel sleepy and can lead to a
dependency

7. TREATMENTS
• Z medicines are a newer type of sleeping tablet that work in a
similar way to benzodiazepines.
• Medicines that contain melatonin have been shown to be
effective in relieving insomnia for up to 26 weeks in elderly
people. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that helps
regulate the sleep cycle, Side effects of this include:
- irritability
- dizziness
- migraines
- constipation
- stomach pain
- weight gain

8. TASK
Now that you have some knowledge about Insomnia, its
your turn to show everyone how you would represent it!
You will be given a small black box and a variety of
resources along with the freedom to express your
thoughts!
You will have to talk about what you have done with
your box to the class and back up what you have done
and why
Good Luck!