It is not always possible to determine which field of medicine a particular disease belongs to. There are conditions caused by changes in both nervous regulation and higher mental functions. Such diseases are usually called “borderline”, that is, the prerogative of their treatment belongs to neurologists and psychiatrists alike. Most often, borderline neurological disorders (or diseases of the nervous system) have two features.
Firstly, they arise under the influence of external stress factors. Secondly, such conditions lead to mental changes. In addition, the treatment of disorders of the nervous system almost always includes the use of psychotropic drugs, which are almost the only tool in service with psychiatrists. An indicative example of neurological disorders of a borderline nature is the condition known to many – insomnia.
Causes and Symptoms of Insomnia
Today, sleep disorders affect 45% of the world’s population, that is, more than three billion people. These statistics take into account both lack of sleep and its excess. Although the problem of insomnia has always been and remains much more relevant.
Like any neurological disorder , insomnia can be classified according to certain criteria. Neurologists suggest dividing this painful condition into three types:
– doubt or difficulty falling asleep. Presomnia can be said if a person needs more than 30-40 minutes to fall asleep (normal time to fall asleep – up to 10 minutes);
– postsomnia – the impossibility of normal life after sleep. This condition occurs even with normal duration of sleep. Figuratively it is sometimes called “sleepy intoxication”;
– Insomnia – actually “insomnia”. If, with a normal duration of sleep (about 7 hours), the patient does not feel rested, the neurologist diagnoses the patient with insomnia. This category also includes any neurological and mental disorders that simultaneously make it difficult to fall asleep and wake up.
The causes of insomnia, like all borderline neurological conditions, are diverse. Often you can observe the occurrence of insomnia when changing time zones, if necessary, switch from day to night work. Neurosis, powerful psycho-emotional stress, psychological trauma and many somatic diseases can also cause disturbances in the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness.
In any case, regardless of the reason, the diagnosis of insomnia is established if the patient indicates sleep disturbances for a month, at least three times a week.
Insomnia treatment
Insomnia cannot be perceived as a normal reaction to stress or fatigue: a healthy body will respond to these factors by lengthening sleep time, but not by decreasing it. It needs to be treated.
Neurological borderline disorders often require the appointment of daytime tranquilizers. However, if you adhere to a number of conditions, you can do without it. For example, falling asleep in the dark stimulates the release of melatonin, a natural sleeping pill, in the brain.
Obviously, the need to exclude taking bedtime substances like caffeine and tannin, observing a rational wakefulness regime and physical activity.
Sleep is the most important method of self-regulation. The brain needs sleep to normalize analytic activity and save energy. Moreover, the human psyche is able to recover only in a dream, when stimuli are perceived much weaker and the need for cognitive systems stress disappears.
Conditions accompanied by sleep disorders are considered severe enough for patients with neurological disorders , seriously disrupting their vital functions. It is fundamentally important to maintain sleep time at the proper level and timely correct its violations by contacting a doctor.