Insomnia vs. Hypersomnia: Navigating Through Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are more common than you think; one-third of the world’s population suffers from sleep disorders. It can be sleeping too long or not getting enough sleep. Either way, it can affect individuals' mood, energy, and ability to handle stress impairing their daily lives.

Introduction to Sleep Disorders  

Sleep disorders are when your sleeping patterns have unhealthy timing, quality, and amount of sleep. A good sleep is essential for everyone. It is needed to regenerate parts of the brain to continue to function normally, which eventually helps in coping with stress, solving problems, or recovering from any illness. Likewise, not getting proper sleep can lead to many health issues.

What is Insomnia?  

Insomnia is a sleeping disorder involving difficulty falling or staying asleep. It is the most common sleep disorder that affects an individual’s daily functioning. Sleeping isn’t just fine; having quality sleep is essential to maintaining proper health and improving overall well-being. There is no definite sleeping pattern for everyone, insomnia can vary from person to person in duration or frequency.

What is Hypersomnia?  

While insomnia is being unable to fall asleep, hypersomnia is a little different. It involves excessive sleeping patterns irrespective of the day or night. Individuals with hypersomnia feel lethargic even after sleeping more than the required time and may experience sleepiness at inappropriate times, impacting their cognitive function and mood regulations.

Symptoms of Insomnia vs. Hypersomnia

While insomnia and hypersomnia are similar and both sleep disorder conditions, their symptoms vary. Individuals with these conditions have distinct sleeping patterns and exhibit their symptoms differently.  

Symptoms of Insomnia  

Some of the common insomnia symptoms are

• Staying awake for long stretches of time before going to sleep

• Unable to sleep, even if you do, it is for a brief time

• Spending majority of the night awake

• Getting up too early

• Often experiencing the feeling of being sleep-deprived

Symptoms of Hypersomnia  

Common symptoms of hypersomnia are

• Feeling uneasy or worried

• Constantly feeling sleepy or fatigued

• Not having much of an appetite  

• Easily getting frustrated

• Having reduced stamina

• Struggling with thinking and communication

• Experiencing memory challenges

• Feeling restless

Causes of Insomnia vs Hypersomnia  

Although the exact cause of insomnia and hypersomnia are still undergoing study, many researchers have confidence in several factors that might be to blame or contributed to the development of the conditions.  

Causes of Insomnia  

• Sleep problems like insomnia often occur in families, suggesting a link through genetics.

• People with insomnia might have more active brains or differences in brain chemistry that make it hard for them to sleep.

• Any pre-existing mental and physical health conditions naturally affect your sleeping pattern.

• Temporary changes in life or going through difficult situations.

• Unhealthy habits or routines

Causes of Hypersomnia  

• Researchers believed that certain chemicals in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid like dopamine or serotonin, might be involved and affect individual sleeping patterns.  

• Genetics might be also a contributing factor in developing this condition.

• Pre-existing medical conditions like depression, nerve damage, a tumor, or under medications are prone to hypersomnia.  

Effects of Insomnia and Hypersomnia  

Both insomnia and hypersomnia have an impact not only on an individual’s physical health, but their mental health is equally affected. Even though the symptoms and causes may vary, both can make a person feel exhausted and demotivated.

Long-term insomnia effects  

Insomnia can be categorized into acute, which is usually short-term, and chronic, long-term insomnia. Acute insomnia has a high chance of developing into chronic insomnia because anxiety, being the common symptom, can make problems worse over time by worrying too much. Moreover, individuals with chronic insomnia are more likely to experience depression and high blood pressure too.

Long-term hypersomnia effects

Being drowsy and tired isn’t the only effect of hypersomnia, it impairs a person’s relationships, jobs, school, and social interaction. Individuals with hypersomnia often feel their sleep didn’t recharge them, even needing to sleep more after sleeping the required time. Apart from the common experiences like recurring headaches, cold hands and feet, and dizziness, depression can develop too.

Treatments and Management Strategies  

Every individual with insomnia and hypersomnia displays their symptoms differently. Therefore, a treatment plan must be carefully developed after assessing their situation, which will provide a better understanding of the underlying conditions.

Treating Insomnia  

The treatment approach for acute and chronic insomnia can be a little different. While acute insomnia can be managed by incorporating healthy lifestyles like alcohol consumption limits, not using any electronic device before bedtime and practicing mindfulness or behavioural therapy.  

Chronic insomnia can be managed with medications, even though it isn’t the first choice and behavioural therapy to have better sleeping patterns along with healthy lifestyle changes.

Treating Hypersomnia  

Primary hypersomnia and secondary hypersomnia are the two types of hypersomnia and treatment will be based on the type. The treatment is similar to what’s used for narcolepsy (a neurological condition causing abnormal sleep) if it’s only primary hypersomnia. However, if there is another health problem, treating that problem is the main focus of secondary hypersomnia. Both types incorporate a healthy lifestyle, behavioural therapy, and medication if needed.

Living with Sleep Disorders: Tips and Coping Strategies  

Living with sleep disorders can be hard; while everyone seems to be getting their work done swiftly, you are left with little to no energy to do so. However, with the right approach, the conditions are manageable.

Key Differences: Hypersomnia vs. Insomnia  

• Both are sleep disorders and conditions that develop with unhealthy sleeping patterns. While hypersomnia is a condition with excessive sleepiness during daytime, insomnia is not able to sleep during nighttime.  

• Although both share similar effects like impairing a person’s relationships, jobs, school, and social interaction along with drowsiness and tiredness, their severity levels are different.  

Lifestyle Modifications

Other than behavioural therapy and medications, few changes in lifestyle can help in getting quality sleep.  

• Create a regular bedtime and relaxing routine.

• Skip naps if possible. If you're tired, nap for under 30 minutes before 3 pm.

• Skip stimulants & heavy meals before bed. Light carbs like milk or yogurt can aid sleep.

• Limit alcohol and tobacco.

• Exercise regularly, at least for 30 minutes.

• Optimize sleep space and reserve your bed for sleeping only

• Maintain a positive mindset before going to bed.

• Clear your mind with writing in dairy

When to Seek Professional Help?

Insomnia and hypersomnia can have many negative impacts on a person’s mental and physical health. If an individual is having trouble staying asleep, falling asleep, or tired after even sleeping more than the required time, and causing difficulty in relationships, work, school, or social interaction, seeking professional help is the key to getting healthy sleep patterns and improving overall well-being.  

Integrating Mindtalk in Sleep Disorder Treatment: A Holistic Approach

Not knowing when and where to begin your sleep disorder treatment process can be overwhelming. This is completely normal. At Mindtalk, our holistic treatment plans are created by expert mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and counselors. These professionals are well-equipped to provide the support and intervention you need. Your situation will be assessed in a safe and non-judgmental space, ensuring you feel comfortable proceeding with treatment.

FAQs

1.What is the difference between insomnia and hypersomnia?

Both are sleep disorders, while Insomnia is when a person is unable to stay or fall asleep, and Hypersomnia is when a person has excessive sleep.  

2.What are the signs and symptoms of hypersomnia?

The symptoms and signs for hypersomnia can be  

• Feeling uneasy or worried

• Constantly feeling sleepy or fatigued

• Not having much of an appetite  

• Easily getting frustrated

• Having reduced stamina

• Struggling with thinking and communication

• Experiencing memory challenges

• Feeling restless

3.What is the difference between insomnia and dyssomnia?

Dyssomnia is like an umbrella term for a category of sleep disorders, whereas insomnia is a specific type of sleep disorder that falls under that umbrella.

4.Can you have both insomnia and hypersomnia?

Insomnia and hypersomnia can happen together. But it's more common for this to occur when someone is depressed. Things like trauma and grief can disturb your sleep too.

‍