conditioned insomnia

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Definition - What does conditioned insomnia mean?

Conditioned insomnia is a form of chronic insomnia that develops when an individual believes their sleep environment to be a source of perceived biorhythm disturbances based on an underlying circumstance, event, or stressor. Many individuals experience different situations that can induce varying degrees of anxiety, fear, and/or pressure leading to persistent issues of insomnia. At bedtime, conditioned insomnia can be influenced by behavioral patterns where a person responds to an expected stimulus.

SureHire explains conditioned insomnia

Insomnia is a common phenomenon characterized as an acute or chronic condition linked to a number of distinct situations, leaving many individuals with feelings of lethargy, indifference, irritability, and worry. Conditioned insomnia can be triggered by numerous causes, with its severity also contingent on underlying variables that can disrupt biorhythms. Existing medical conditions, irregular sleep habits, erratic work shift schedules, and sleep disorders with symptoms of intermittent breathing cessations can all serve as aggravating factors for individuals suffering from insomnia.

Sleep deprivation is a prevalent concern, especially in the workplace, where employees exhibit clear mental and/or physical signs of sleep deprivation such as poor cognitive function (i.e. focus, memory), body fatigue, mood swings, and a decreased morale. A considerable lack of sleep often impacts overall productivity as accidents can become more frequent, thus resulting in liabilities that pose steep expenditures to employers. As a recourse, many businesses prioritize sleep awareness by enlisting the services of sleep professionals who introduce solutions designed to mitigate and/or prevent sleep disorders such as insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and sleep apnea.

Treatment interventions are tailored to address the individual’s sleep pattern deviations in order to produce optimal results. For instance, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a recognized modality useful in alleviating the effects of conditioned insomnia by fostering normal perceptions of a sleep atmosphere to improve quality of sleep.

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