Home About Idorsia Our responsibilities Investors Media Careers Contact Idorsia today Idorsia people Target diseases Partnerships Are you ready to get a glimpse of what it is like to live with insomnia? + About this eBook Introduction “It’s like a barrier. I can’t feel much other than tired. If something happy happens, rather than being excited about it, I’m just too tired” - Patient We spend approximately a third of our life asleep. Good quality sleep is vital to our health and well-being. For most of us, sleeping is as natural as walking and breathing, but what is it like for people who struggle to get a good night’s sleep, a condition known as insomnia? How does it affect their lives? This resource takes you inside the world of insomnia. Understanding insomnia “It really annoys me when people say ‘if you were really tired, you would sleep’. If only it were that simple! Unless you have suffered from true insomnia, you have absolutely no idea what it’s like.” - Patient Most of us take sleep for granted. We may experience the odd sleepless night or even suffer longer periods of poor-quality sleep, but the problem usually improves without the need for intervention. For most of the time, we simply go to sleep without even having to think about it. Insomnia is a persistent condition that has a negative impact on daytime functioning. Poor-quality sleep can affect many aspects of daily life, from the ability to concentrate or work effectively to the capacity to drive. Treatments are available to help restore more restful sleep, but they are often associated with side effects or are not suitable for long-term use. However, self-management programs can be very helpful at improving the quality of sleep. What is sleep? Before we look at insomnia in more detail, it is useful to understand exactly what sleep is. Sleep can seem like quite a mysterious process that takes us from consciousness to unconsciousness. In fact, some of its complexities are still not fully understood. It has been said that we could survive three times longer without food than we could without sleep. + How much sleep do we need? + What are the stages of sleep? + What happens during sleep? + What is NREM sleep? + What is REM sleep? What is insomnia? Insomnia is very different from a short-term period of poor sleep, and can take its toll on both the physical and mental health. It is officially defined as dissatisfaction with sleep quality or quantity on at least three nights per week for at least 3 months, despite adequate opportunity to sleep, i.e. there is nothing obvious preventing sleep. It can cause significant distress for those affected, with a negative impact on daytime functioning due to effects such as fatigue, poor concentration or feeling down. Insomnia can take different forms: difficulty falling asleep; problems staying asleep; waking too early; or a combination of these. + Types of insomnia What causes sleep problems and who gets them? “It started when we had young children. The sleepless nights got to my brain, so even though the kids are long gone, the psychological damage was long-term – by that I mean my paranoia at being short of sleep.” - Patient Poor sleep patterns can develop out of the blue for no apparent reason, but in some cases, an underlying cause or trigger can be identified. Often, the impact on sleeping patterns is temporary and things improve when these external factors are no longer an issue. For some people, however, poor sleep can become an entrenched habit. Fear of not getting enough sleep adds to stress and tension, which can worsen sleep problems, leading to a vicious cycle. + Associated causes + How common is insomnia and who gets it? Diagnosis and treatment of insomnia “I am always amazed how I cope at work with minimal sleep. You just get used to it, but I do wonder about the damage to my long-term health” - Patient Insomnia is often under-diagnosed and under-treated. It is estimated that around 70% of people with persistent insomnia never seek medical help. Insomnia is usually diagnosed and treated by a family doctor, but some patients may be referred to a sleep specialist or a sleep clinic for further investigation, particularly if sleep apnea is suspected. + When to seek medical advice + What tests are used to diagnose insomnia? What treatments are available for insomnia? A variety of approaches can be tried, depending on the likely cause of insomnia and the degree of severity. The main options are: ‘sleep hygiene’ techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, short courses of prescription sleeping tablets or melatonin. Medication may also be provided to treat underlying health problems. + Sleep hygiene techniques + Cognitive behavioral therapy + Sleeping tablets + Melatonin + Medication for other conditions Burden of insomnia “When I am going through a bad patch, insomnia gets in the way of everything. Work, going out, doing exercise. Everything just seems like too much of an effort. I try not to think about it too much – you can so easily get obsessed with getting a good night’s sleep – but it’s always there at the back of my mind” - Patient The impact of insomnia is often underestimated. In reality, it can be a distressing condition that can reduce quality of life. It may affect many aspects of daily life, from studying and employment to social activities and relationships. Insomnia can have a significant economic impact and increases the risk of accident and injury on the road or in the workplace. + Work and employment + Emotional wellbeing + Friends and family + Insomnia and accidents Practical guidance on managing insomnia “Some mornings you get up and wonder how on earth you are going to get through the day. Somehow you do, but it can be a massive struggle” - Patient People with insomnia can take practical steps to improve their physical and mental wellbeing and to improve the quality of their sleep. This section outlines some of the strategies that can be helpful. Taking positive control Some of the approaches that have been developed to improve sleep quality can be very effective. Sometimes even relatively small adjustments in our lifestyle or attitude to sleep can make it easier to get a good night’s sleep. It is worth persevering. If one approach does not work, it is worth trying something else. + Become informed + Avoid stimulants + Remain active Specific approaches “Lying awake in the small hours is an incredibly lonely experience. You start worrying about what you have to do next day and your mind fills with other fears and anxieties. Everything seems worse in the dead of the night” - Patient + Make your bedroom a sanctuary + Stimulus control therapy + Sleep restriction therapy + Tackle technology + Relax the body + Calm the mind + Disclaimer Introduction Understanding insomnia Diagnosis and treatment of insomnia Burden of insomnia Practical guidance on managing insomnia FOLLOW US: VIEWING OPTIONS This website is subject to the terms and conditions outlined in the legal and privacy statement. Last update: 30.08.2021 Legal & privacy statement|Site map|Cookie policy|Webmaster Copyright © 2021 Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd