What Causes Sleeplessness?

Posted on Mon, 21 Apr 2014

Question: Hello Doctor, I needed help with me not being able to sleep for long. I do a regular night shift and have been doing it from quite sometime now bout 6 years. now a days I just can't sleep well. I just sleep for about 3-4 hours a day which is worrying me. could you please help me with this.

Answered by Dr. Divya Kuttikrishnan (3 hours later)

Brief Answer: ...... Detailed Answer: Hi there... Thanks for writing in. The side effects of sleep deprivation are many, depression, decreased concentration, affects memory and mood. Since you have regular night shifts , I would advise you to maintain a regular sleep wake schedule on all the days including holidays. Make the room dark with heavy curtains etc. Tell your family members not to disturb you with phone calls etc. Avoid having coffee upto 4 hours before going to bed.It might keep you awake during the day time and you might be unable to sleep after work. Hope this helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Divya Kuttikrishnan (7 minutes later)

hello Doctor, I've tried pretty much everything to get me to sleep. my room is as dark as virtually possible. I try to maintain a healthy diet. exercise regularly. keep my phone in silent so no calls or messages disturb me. got ear plugs. I don't drink coffee tea or any carbonated drinks. I still can't sleep for more than 4 hours. I had a visits to a doc and he prescribed meloset tablets and I could sleep only when I take those. I stopped it after the course as I Dint want to get addiceted to pills. is there anything else you think I could try to better my sleep. Ps: as you mentioned I'm suffering from depressing frequent mood swings restlessness etc.

Answered by Dr. Divya Kuttikrishnan (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer: ... Detailed Answer: Have you tried taking a nap for about 1 or 2 hours before going to work ? It might help you stay awake and alert during work. Once you go back home, you can have your regular 4 hours of sleep that you normally have. Sign up for yoga classes which might help you relax and improve your sleep.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar