Insomnia Diagnosis - Why Am I Always Tired?

If the quality of your sleep is leaving you tired and irritable, you may be suffering from insomnia. Insomnia is actually a common sleep problem. Insomnia is characterized by: having trouble falling asleep, waking up too often, and/or waking too early. Insomnia can make your body feel as though you are not properly rested, even after you had the proper opportunity to get enough sleep.

If you think you may be suffering from insomnia, there are some things you can try to see if you can improve the quality of your sleep.

Develop a bedtime routine to end your day. It may involve a relaxing warm bath or reading a book. Listen to soft music. Try some relaxation techniques.

Make sure your sleeping environment is conducive to a good night’s sleep. Close your drapes/blinds to keep light out. The room temperature should be comfortable. Make sure you have enough blankets to keep yourself comfortable.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime.

What if my insomnia is not improving? When your sleep pattern is making your day hard to get through on a regular basis and does not seem to be improving, you should seek the advice of a physician for a proper insomnia diagnosis.

What can I do to help my doctor in making an insomnia diagnosis? Keep a sleep journal. Record your night’s sleeping patterns and any other pertinent information about your day. Record things such as how long it takes you to fall asleep, did you sleep well, what you had to eat or drink that evening, did you take any medicine that day, did you have a stress-filled day at work, etc. Record your findings for a number of days. Present your sleep diary to your doctor when you see him/her about your insomnia symptoms. This will help with your diagnosis.

Laboratory tests can also be done to look for underlying causes of your insomnia.

Learn more about Insomnia Symptoms, including treatments and remedies for insomnia.