Insomnia is known as the medical condition in which you just can’t fall asleep, no matter how tired you are. Well, if that wasn’t frustrating enough, then there are many different types of insomnia that can occur in people. One of them is paradoxical insomnia. Here is everything you need to know about it. Consult a sleep doctor Silver Spring if you think you can’t sleep at night or can’t stay asleep.

What Is Paradoxical Insomnia?

Paradoxical insomnia, also known as sleep state misperception, is a sleeping disorder that is quite similar to insomnia, but not really. Basically, it is the perception that you have insomnia and have not slept well through the night, but it is actually not true.

If you sleep with someone or get a sleep study done when you suffer from paradoxical insomnia, the results will be the same, that is, you will be sleeping peacefully through the night without any disruption or even a blink of hesitation, and your sleeping partner or the sleep study will also show just that.

However, when you wake up, you will feel as though you didn’t get a good rest and you will be restless throughout the day, thinking that you have insomnia. As the name suggests, this disorder is truly a paradox and it is all in your head most of the time.

Paradoxical insomnia can be really frustrating to deal with because you don’t really have any insomnia-related symptoms, but you feel like something is wrong with your sleep and you can’t shake off this very tired and restless feeling, which is usually the case with many sleeping disorders.

So, paradoxical insomnia is a very complex sleep disorder and since it is a disorder that has been scarcely researched on, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. Like: Is it really a disorder or a fluke of the brain? Is it dangerous? Is it manageable?

There have been only a handful of studies on this disorder, so it is still in the developing stages and saying anything for certain is impossible at the moment, but what can be said for sure is that a good chunk of people suffer from it and it is equally frustrating as it is scary.

Causes Of Paradoxical Insomnia

Since paradoxical insomnia or sleep state misperception is still a disorder that doesn’t have a lot of scientific and research-based backing, the cause of this disorder is still unknown.

A Type Of Chronic Insomnia

Paradoxical insomnia is a sub-type of chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia is the recurring difficulty in sleep and it is something that doesn’t just go away after some time, like acute insomnia. Chronic insomnia is something that you have to live with for the rest of your life and get by with managing it at best.

So, it could be deduced that paradoxical insomnia might have something to do with chronic insomnia, or patients with chronic insomnia, who already have a very hard time falling asleep and can’t differentiate between good and bad sleep anymore, can also experience symptoms of paradoxical insomnia. It is not certain, but it is a starting point and research is still underway to figure out the root cause of this very confusing sleep disorder.

As for now, paradoxical insomnia can be caused by anything and everything or nothing at all, so it is really a blank space that has a lot of room for experiments and interpretations.

Symptoms Of Paradoxical Insomnia

So, now that you know the basics of paradoxical insomnia and what it might entail, the next thing to go over are the symptoms. Here are some of the very common symptoms you might feel when you’re in the throes of paradoxical insomnia.

Unrefreshing Sleep

First of all, you will feel very unrefreshed after sleeping. When you wake up, you will feel lethargic, like you didn’t get any sleep at all and you will be in an overall sour mood.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that you didn’t get a good night’s rest, but your brain, for some reason, is stuck on this fact and it shows on the rest of your body, which is not good at all. Visit a sleep clinic Walkersville if this becomes regular.

You Will Think You Have Woken Up At Night, But

You will think that you have woken up in the middle of the night, when in reality, you really haven’t. If you sleep with someone or get a sleep study done on you, then you will be able to tell the difference.

What you feel and what the actual results are based on your sleep partner witnessing you snoozing through the night or the results of the sleep study, you will be at a loss and very confused as to what is true and what is false. It is extremely misleading and very confusing.

Effect On Daily Activities

Since you will not be on your a-game, because you think that you’re tired and just didn’t sleep well, you will also not function better at work or school.

This is something that you have to deal with, because your mind is telling you one thing, what actually happened is another thing, and what your body is feeling is entirely different too and this can lead to not so productive day at work or school and you will also have a hard time interacting with people, thanks to your hazy focus and concentration.

Treatment & Management For Paradoxical Insomnia

So, by now, you can probably conclude that paradoxical insomnia is not at all good, either for your physical health or especially your mental health.

Diagnosis Of Paradoxical Insomnia

So, you need to get to the bottom of the issue and get it solved before you’re paying the price with your peace.

What you want to do is go to a doctor immediately with all of your symptoms. This is really good and it keeps a log of your activity and what you’ve been feeling all throughout the days before your visit to the doctor. This will create a pattern of sorts and you guys can get on with a management or treatment mode.

Treatment And Management Modes

Medication

For paradoxical insomnia, there isn’t a set cure, since this is a widely under-researched department, so for now, you can try to take supplements and medication that will help calm you down and sleep better at night.

You can also take melatonin supplements or effective sleep medication, but make sure that you have a doctor’s note for it, because taking these medications without any prescription can turn detrimental and you don’t want that.

Psychotherapy

As for the mental side of things, psychotherapy, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy and patterns, can also be effective when it comes to paradoxical insomnia. The goal of this therapy is to give you a healthier perspective on sleep and how it can be better for your mental health in the long run.

Sleep Therapy

Although the relation between sleep therapy and paradoxical insomnia hasn’t been made yet, it is harmless to try this for once and get a clearer and understandable notion of sleep and let it pave a road for better sleep habits and healthy bodily functions.

Conclusion

Paradoxical insomnia is one of the most interesting types of insomnia, because it can trick your brain and body into thinking you didn’t get enough sleep. Get help from an insomnia specialist Baltimore for diagnosis, treatment, and management.