Sleep disorders definition psychology needs to understand as its directly affects your health. Nearly everyone, if not all, people have encountered sleep disorders at one point in their lives. Some are transient, and some are cumbersomely long-lasting. And, obviously, not one sleeping disorder is the same. There are several different types of sleeping disorders, each with its own manifestations and nuances.
List of Sleep Disorders
1. Insomnia
Probably the most well-known of these sleeping disorders is Insomnia, a disorder characterized by a person’s difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep. About 10-15% of the world’s population has severe chronic insomnia, while 25-30% has occasional insomnia. Due to the advent of new media and technology in such a quick pace, this past century has seen a 20% reduction of nightly sleeping time. On the other hand, definition of sleep disorders Parasomnia is characterized by a person’s activity in an unconscious state. Somnambulism (sleepwalking), night terrors, as such can be categorized under parasomnia.
2. Bruxism
Other common sleeping disorder is Bruxism, which is the spontaneous clenching or grinding of the teeth in a sleeping state. Narcolepsy is a notorious, albeit not as common, sleeping disorder, which is characterized by a person’s sudden falling asleep, unwillingly and spontaneously at unexpected times.
3. Rapid Eye Movement Disorder (RBD)
Another is the Rapid Eye Movement Disorder (RBD), in which a person acts out violently and dramatically in his or her dreams while in REM sleep.
4. Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS)
One common sleep disorder than few realize is actually a sleep disorder is the Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS). People with this disorder are unable to wake up or fall asleep at desired times, but he or she still acquires the much needed sleeping hours.
5. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is basically self explanatory: an uncontrollable movement of the legs, and generally categorized under Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD), which includes sudden movements of the arms.
6. Sleep Apnea
Another is Sleep Apnea, which is the obstruction of the airway during sleep, causing very heavy snoring and sudden awakenings if the airway does become fully obstructed.
7. Sleep Paralysis
One popular sleeping disorder, often mythologized with demons and the paranormal, is Sleep Paralysis. Surprisingly a common condition, this is characterized by transient or total paralysis of skeletal muscles and are flexia.
Causes of Sleep Disorders
The common causes of these sleep disorders can be determined in a person’s lifestyle. At times, the sex of the person can determine if he or she is more or less susceptible to a sleeping disorder. For example, females are more likely to acquire insomnia than men. Change of work shifts can also have a significant impact on one’s sleeping habits.
Other common problems that can affect sleeping include anxiety, back pain, chronic pain, neck pain, sciatica (pain in the lower back, buttock, various parts of the leg and foot), environmental noise, incontinence (lack of voluntary control of excretory functions, i.e. urinating, etc.), drug intake, hormones (especially in endocrine imbalance), and chronobiological disorders (disturbances of a person’s biological clock).
Age and marital status can even affect a person’s sleeping pattern and here is introduction of sleep disorder happens. Depression and stress also have major roles in a person’s sleeping patterns or disorders.
Different sleep disorders also calls for different types of sleep disorders treatment. A sleeping pill is not a cure-all for sleeping disorders.You must understand sleep disorders definition psychology in deep.
There are behavioral/psychotherapeutic treatments, sleeping disorder test, medications, and other somatic treatments that help people cope with their sleeping disorders.