Insomnia: The Silent Killer

On a day to day basis, millions of people who struggle with an invisible disability come face to face with numerous challenges that the average person might view as a simple task. Many of us do not recognize these challenges therefore leaving us with false assumptions and judgements. In order to “see” those who live with invisible disabilities and further understand the complications they face, it is essential that we educate ourselves and one another about these disabilities.

An invisible disability is defined as a condition regarding one’s mental, physical or neurological state that is not apparent but still continues to limit one’s ability to overcome everyday challenges as well as having an impact on their role in society. A very common example of an invisible disability that millions struggle with every year is, Insomnia.

Insomnia is a very dangerous thing that can happen to a person, it can cause intense mental issues on your psyche. It can eat you from the inside out, and can possibly cause permanent damage to your mental health. Which could lead to anxiety, depression, physical illness etc. Chronic stress, PTSD are the leading factors to insomnia, which makes it harder to break the cycle of insomnia. Insomnia messed up your internal clock and your internal calendar, insomnia could feel like jet-lag or switch up how your body works. Instead of your body knowing when it’s night or day, it knows to work during the day and sleep through the night.but insomnia flips it, making you feel working during the night and sleep during the day. Also, other causes could be from being on our phones or video games late a night, or drinking too much caffeine or alcohol.

The hardest thing about insomnia is having to work during the day and or doing things on the daily. Which obviously affects you in a very negative way, to have no energy, to be tired all the time, etc. It could potentially lead to suicide if it gets to a really bad point of insomnia. Insomnia could also lead to the possibility of diabetes, sleep apnea, and other heart conditions. Insomnia is many different types in terms of no sleep or little to no sleep every night. You can take medications to help you with helping you sleep like, ZzzQuil, or Melatonin types of medicine or gummies, etc. Some Neurodegenerative disorders are dementia and Alzheimers. But the hard part nowadays is that it is an Invisible disability, you never know. It could be the person you work with or a family member. It would be difficult at work because it could affect how much work and effort you put out into your job.

Insomnia could also develop ADHD and ASD in people. Obstructive sleep apnea, which causes breathing lapses and temporary sleep interruptions. It also can play an affect on your work ethic for school, in regards to fully completing assignments and turning them in by the due date and/or arriving to classes on time. Problems during pregnancy can also arise due to Insomnia as seen in weight change discomfort, new sleep positions, and restless leg syndrome.

Insomnia challenges us by not letting us be able to reset or allow us to rest and allow us to be able to be our best selves for work or school or anything. You can notice this in people by seeing if they’re tired all the time, sluggish, not motivated, doing half as much work as they should, etc.

Insomnia is a very sad invisible disability and it greatly affects people in a very negative way. Like stated earlier, it’s an invisible disability we don’t see until or unless you’re told by that person that they have it and are suffering from it and are seeking help for it. I have never personally suffered from it but we all have those nights where we can’t fall asleep, but I can say from those it is not a fun thing to have happen to you.

Works Cited

Invisible Disabilities Association. “How Do You Define Invisible Disability? | Invisible Disability Definition.” Invisible Disabilities® Association, Invisible Disabilities® Association, 8 Oct. 2019, https://invisibledisabilities.org/what-is-an-invisible-disability/

“Insomnia.” WebMD, WebMD LLC, 1 Jan. 2000, www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/insomnia-symptoms-and-causes#:%7E:text=Insomnia%20is%20a%20sleep%20disorder,for%203%20months%20or%20more.

“Insomnia | Womenshealth.Gov.” Womenshealth.Gov, 21 Nov. 2018, www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/insomnia.

“Insomnia.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 30 Apr. 2020, https://medlineplus.gov/insomnia.html.

Suni, Eric. “What Causes Insomnia?” Sleep Foundation, © 2021 OneCare Media, LLC, 6 Aug. 2020, www.sleepfoundation.org/insomnia/what-causes-insomnia.