Sleep disorders are basically a group of conditions caused by too much stress or health issues and affect your ability to sleep well. Approximately one-third of the adults in the United States are dealing with sleep disorders. Fortunately, understanding the several types of sleep disorders can help you, and your doctor can determine the exact cause of your sleep disorder. This guide explores the common types of sleep disorders and the importance of consulting a San Diego psychiatrist concerning your sleep problem.
1. Insomnia
With about 30 to 40 percent of people with sleep disorders dealing with chronic insomnia, this condition can be considered the most common sleep disorder. Insomnia can take numerous forms in that some people spend between 20 to 30 minutes in bed before falling asleep, while others awaken frequently and find it difficult to go back to sleep.
2. Parasomnias
Parasomnias are sleep disorders that consist of abnormal physiological events or sleep behaviors that usually occur during certain sleep stages. Common forms of parasomnias include:
- Sleep sex
- Sleepwalking
- Sleep terrors
- Rapid eye movement (REM) behavior disorder
- Sleep eating
3. Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a chronic medical condition that causes you to stop breathing several times in an hour for 10 seconds or more. This makes the levels of oxygen in your blood drop and causes your body to pull you out of your sleep to make you breathe again. Moreover, sleep apnea can lead to diabetes, heart failure, or hypertension.
4. Sleep Paralysis
Sleep paralysis occurs when you are either asleep or awake, but you are unable to move. Episodes of sleep paralysis normally last for a few minutes as your brain tries to wake up or fully fall asleep. Moreover, sleep paralysis causes some people to have hallucinations.
5. Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that involves excessive daytime sleepiness. This can cause you to fall asleep in inappropriate situations, such as when walking home or shopping. Other common symptoms of narcolepsy include:
- Hypnagogic Hallucinations – These are hallucinations that happen while you are trying to fall asleep.
- Sleep Paralysis – This is the inability to move while falling asleep or upon waking, during which you are alert and aware of your surroundings.
- Cataplexy – This makes you physically collapse, often after getting excited, being startled, laughing, or experiencing a strong emotion.
6. Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological movement disorder that is characterized by an unpleasant sensation in the legs followed by a need to move. These feelings may include:
- Aches
- Crawling sensation on your legs
- Burning
- Tingling
RLS symptoms usually occur when you’re sleeping, resting, or trying to fall asleep, and in turn making it difficult to sleep.
TMS, PrTMS®, and Sleep Disorders
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive treatment that involves the use of a magnetic field to enhance nerve activity in your brain. TMS often applies to persons with sleep disorders because electroencephalograms (EEGs) show that they have abnormal brain waves or brain arrhythmias. Additionally, PrTMS® greatly boosts the procedure by customizing it to an individual’s unique brainwaves.
Conclusion
The team of experts at Mindset uses a personalized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (PrTMS®), which is a highly effective technique in treating sleep disorders and correcting the irregular brain activity associated with sleep disorders. To learn more about our PrTMS® approach, book an appointment online or call the San Diego, California office.
