-- Posted by az123 at 11:11 am on Feb. 2, 2008 I am amazed there is no fixed topic about the illnesses connected with sleep so here is my own: Getting a good night's sleep is essential for feeling refreshed and alert during the day.  Unfortunately, not everyone is about to get a good night sleep every night. However, ignoring the underlying causes, or covering the symptoms with drugs usually makes the problem worse. And untreated sleep disorders can even be hazardous to your health - a British study released in September 2007 found that people who do not get enough sleep are twice as likely to die of heart disease. Luckily, through proper testing, diagnosis and care, sleep disorders can be managed and overcome. The most common sleep problems/illnesses: Insomnia (although it has a undeniably cool name) is really irritating. I my self had insomnia for a while. Here is some information about it: Insomnia is a significant lack of high-quality sleep. It can be short-term or chronic. Insomnia may be caused by stress, a change in time zones or sleep schedule, poor bedtime habits, or an underlying medical or psychiatric condition. Symptoms include: Difficulty falling asleep despite being tired Requiring sleeping pills or alcohol to fall asleep Awakening frequently during the night or lying awake in the middle of the night Awakening too early in the morning despite not feeling refreshed Daytime drowsiness, fatigue, and irritability In most cases, insomnia can be helped by improving bedtime habits, relieving stress, and relaxation exercises. However, certain medications may be prescribed by your doctor if these alternative treatments do not have the desired effect. another common illness: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensory disorder causing an almost irresistible urge to move the legs. The urge to move the legs is usually due to uncomfortable, tingly, or creeping sensations that occur when at rest. Movement eases the feelings, but only for a while. RLS is not necessarily confined to your sleep time. Symptoms most often occur when you are relaxed or lying down. You may also notice small, jerky movements of the toes, feet, and legs as you are trying to fall asleep. Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) is a related condition involving involuntary, rhythmic limb movements, either while asleep or when awake. While most people who have Restless Legs Syndrome also have PLMD, only some people with PLMD also have RLS. Because of the discomfort the symptoms cause, RLS can make it difficult falling (and staying) asleep.  Alternative therapies, lifestyle changes, and even nutritional supplements have proven helpful for RLS and PLMD sufferers.   and one more: Narcolepsy is a disorder that causes a person to have difficulty staying awake. Narcolepsy can cause a person to suddenly fall asleep during the day. These "sleep attacks" occur even after getting enough sleep at night. The unusual sleep pattern that people with narcolepsy have can affect their schooling, work, and social life. Falling asleep during activities like walking, driving, cooking, or talking can have dangerous results, both professionally and personally. Symptoms include: Intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the daytime Excessive daytime sleepiness Sudden, short-lived loss of muscle control during emotional situations (cataplexy) As narcolepsy involves the nervous system, treatment requires a combination of medication, behavioral treatments, and counseling. Please dont copy all of this- it took me ages to write it all. -- Posted by hollywoodxcliche at 3:12 am on Feb. 15, 2008 What if-no matter how much sleep I get, be it 3 hours or 12-when I get to school, everything is all good, until the teacher starts talking. If a teacher lectures or makes me read something I hate, or makes me watch a stupid video, I crash. I mean, I'm out within 5 minutes. Even if I try my hardest to stay awake; I can keep my head up, but I'll still fall asleep sitting straight up. And why is it that if I get less sleep, I feel better throughout the day-until it gets late? ...if I get more sleep, I get tired faster. It's retarded. I mean, I can pull an all-nighter, and not get tired until late the next night. That is, if I don't have school. -- Posted by bubbleblower123 at 11:39 am on Feb. 16, 2008 I've pulled an all nighter, but crashed in the AM!!! -- Posted by orrr647 at 1:42 pm on Feb. 16, 2008 Ive had a week where all i got was 5 hours of sleep each night and i always got tired at night but always felt hyper in the day. I finally crashed on Friday night though ^-^" -- Posted by weee at 11:53 pm on Feb. 16, 2008 yeah -- Posted by Anticare at 9:27 pm on Feb. 29, 2008 Eh, I've had insomnia for awhile last year. It's minimizing a lot now..wooh. -- Posted by Junko at 3:38 pm on Mar. 19, 2008 Quote: from Anticare at 4:27 am on Mar. 1, 2008 Eh, I've had insomnia for awhile last year. It's minimizing a lot now..wooh. Same here (: -- Posted by QueenOfGeeks at 9:17 pm on Mar. 27, 2008 How does one get rid of insomnia? I've had it for at least 3 years, probably longer and nothing helps. I've tried everything. Relaxation techniques-woke me up more than made me tired. Sleeping habits-same time every night, waking up at the same time too, did nothing. I'm not stressed. I'm also trying over the counter sleeping pills but all they do is wake me up and make me really hyper. In fact, I took one about 30 min ago and now I want to do something really active! -- Posted by labayk at 12:34 am on April 1, 2008 i m addicted to codiene. -- Posted by labayk at 12:36 am on April 1, 2008 try codiene or LDX that will work it out -- Posted by spike101 at 4:14 pm on April 2, 2008 thats totally cool not creepy for my taste -- Posted by nisiyouri at 2:01 pm on April 3, 2008 Not getting enough sleep also lowers your immune system and disrupts your cognitive functioning. Good points- I forgot about RLS. How terrible that must be ;_; -- Posted by agacior89 at 4:40 am on April 6, 2008 Quote: from az123 at 11:11 am on Feb. 2, 2008  Insomnia (although it has a undeniably cool name) (...) It goes without saying: the name comes from Latin ;) Ok, but now seriously: Insomnia is undoubtedly grave social disease (btw the word "grave also comes from Latin ^^) and most often is a caused by depression, unconscious fears or irregular lifestyle. I know- easy to say, but in the face of illness we all don't know what to do. Also I: my boyfriend is actually suffering from insomnia and I don't know what to do. My heart is breaking when I see him, barely able to live :*( Az, you write, you used to have insomnia for a while: could you tell me please, what have helped to you? -- Posted by aphex twin at 1:33 am on April 12, 2008 Quote: from QueenOfGeeks at 9:17 pm on Mar. 27, 2008 How does one get rid of insomnia? I've had it for at least 3 years, probably longer and nothing helps. I've tried everything. Relaxation techniques-woke me up more than made me tired. Sleeping habits-same time every night, waking up at the same time too, did nothing. I'm not stressed. I'm also trying over the counter sleeping pills but all they do is wake me up and make me really hyper. In fact, I took one about 30 min ago and now I want to do something really active! Just talk to your GP about it, get properly diagnosed, and than her about trying the hypnotic benzodiazepine drug Halcion (triazolam). It's extremely effective for treating insomnia. It has an extremely fast onset of about 10 to 15 minutes (if taken on an empty stomach), it causes a great deal of sedation and both physical and psychological relaxation, and dramatically shortens the time needed to fall asleep. It has an extremely short duration and half-life, so it doesn't cause any "hangover" effect; and you can take it nightly for months without developing a tolerance to it. -- Posted by mimimoom at 3:03 pm on April 14, 2008 meeh 2 -- Posted by fate1010203 at 8:58 pm on April 16, 2008 I'm the same way in that the less I sleep the more refreshed I am in the morning. It catches up to me in the afternoon, though. And I was diagnosed with depression and even now I can't get a good night's sleep. Says the person that's online at 11 at night. ^_^ I don't know, it's like with sleep I never win. And I haven't tried much. Just lay there until I'm either restless and have to do something or...eventually fall asleep one hour later. And I haven't pulled an all-nighter in months. Hmm... -- Posted by cutebody75 at 3:35 pm on April 24, 2008 I have had chest pain before when I was sleeping and it sucked but it turned out to be nothing. YAY!!! -- Posted by az123 at 12:33 pm on May 7, 2008 all nighters are really great and fun but be careful you catch up with you sleep- if your really tired it can affect your health. even if you dont feel tired the next night make sure you catch up on your sleep!_x -- Posted by Syber at 12:55 am on May 18, 2008 Yea, Im currently struggling with Insomnia. For the first 3-4 days I felt great but now im constantly tired...its geeting a little better but still not average bed time. You forgot that Depression Is a BIG BIG symptom of Insomnia.... -- Posted by pwincess unome at 6:12 am on May 21, 2008 drink some chocolate if you cant go 2 sleep -- Posted by Lally at 7:27 pm on July 9, 2008 Congrats on getting your own sticky at dairy product rank!!! :D Anyways, i really needed this sticky. I was deathly afraid i was turning Nocturnal -- Posted by brook at 6:24 pm on July 22, 2008 same here. -- Posted by RandomBoy34 at 2:12 pm on Sep. 13, 2008 hmmm My head hurts if I sleep for too long, "oversleeping" O_O (named it or does is it actually a illness) I like to sleep, but sometimes my head starts to hurt if i sleep any longer -- Posted by sadnessness at 7:48 am on Sep. 27, 2008 i have chronic insomnia. i survive on 4-5 hours a night, at least 5 nights a week. it kills me at school and the doc wont give me meds cos theyre too addictive and i also have depression.