Getting a good night's sleep is essential for feeling refreshed and alert during the day.  Unfortunately, not everyone is about to get a good night sleep every night. However, ignoring the underlying causes, or covering the symptoms with drugs usually makes the problem worse.
And untreated sleep disorders can even be hazardous to your health - a British study released in September 2007 found that people who do not get enough sleep are twice as likely to die of heart disease. Luckily, through proper testing, diagnosis and care, sleep disorders can be managed and overcome.

The most common sleep problems/illnesses:
Insomnia (although it has a undeniably cool name) is really irritating. I my self had insomnia for a while. Here is some information about it:

Insomnia is a significant lack of high-quality sleep. It can be short-term or chronic. Insomnia may be caused by stress, a change in time zones or sleep schedule, poor bedtime habits, or an underlying medical or psychiatric condition.

Symptoms include:

Difficulty falling asleep despite being tired
Requiring sleeping pills or alcohol to fall asleep
Awakening frequently during the night or lying awake in the middle of the night
Awakening too early in the morning despite not feeling refreshed
Daytime drowsiness, fatigue, and irritability
In most cases, insomnia can be helped by improving bedtime habits, relieving stress, and relaxation exercises. However, certain medications may be prescribed by your doctor if these alternative treatments do not have the desired effect.

another common illness:
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensory disorder causing an almost irresistible urge to move the legs. The urge to move the legs is usually due to uncomfortable, tingly, or creeping sensations that occur when at rest. Movement eases the feelings, but only for a while.
RLS is not necessarily confined to your sleep time. Symptoms most often occur when you are relaxed or lying down. You may also notice small, jerky movements of the toes, feet, and legs as you are trying to fall asleep.

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) is a related condition involving involuntary, rhythmic limb movements, either while asleep or when awake. While most people who have Restless Legs Syndrome also have PLMD, only some people with PLMD also have RLS. Because of the discomfort the symptoms cause, RLS can make it difficult falling (and staying) asleep.  Alternative therapies, lifestyle changes, and even nutritional supplements have proven helpful for RLS and PLMD sufferers.
 

and one more:
Narcolepsy is a disorder that causes a person to have difficulty staying awake. Narcolepsy can cause a person to suddenly fall asleep during the day.
These "sleep attacks" occur even after getting enough sleep at night. The unusual sleep pattern that people with narcolepsy have can affect their schooling, work, and social life.
Falling asleep during activities like walking, driving, cooking, or talking can have dangerous results, both professionally and personally.

Symptoms include:

Intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the daytime
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Sudden, short-lived loss of muscle control during emotional situations (cataplexy)
As narcolepsy involves the nervous system, treatment requires a combination of medication, behavioral treatments, and counseling.

Please dont copy all of this- it took me ages to write it all.

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Check my image basket- laughs guarranted!!!!
Not just another bimbo- Kylie lw hubbie- hardone 203

And why is it that if I get less sleep, I feel better throughout the day-until it gets late? ...if I get more sleep, I get tired faster. It's retarded. I mean, I can pull an all-nighter, and not get tired until late the next night. That is, if I don't have school.

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Are we not like two volumes of one book?

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Eh, I've had insomnia for awhile last year. It's minimizing a lot now..wooh.

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Same here (:

Good points- I forgot about RLS. How terrible that must be ;_;

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people are just people like you!

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 Insomnia (although it has a undeniably cool name) (...)

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It goes without saying: the name comes from Latin ;)

Ok, but now seriously: Insomnia is undoubtedly grave social disease (btw the word "grave also comes from Latin ^^) and most often is a caused by depression, unconscious fears or irregular lifestyle.
I know- easy to say, but in the face of illness we all don't know what to do. Also I: my boyfriend is actually suffering from insomnia and I don't know what to do. My heart is breaking when I see him, barely able to live :*(

Az, you write, you used to have insomnia for a while: could you tell me please, what have helped to you?

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^CORRECT ME WHEN I'M WRONG, PLEASE!^
I'm just learning English and really need your help ;P DZIĘKUJĘ!

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How does one get rid of insomnia?
I've had it for at least 3 years, probably longer and nothing helps.
I've tried everything.
Relaxation techniques-woke me up more than made me tired.
Sleeping habits-same time every night, waking up at the same time too, did nothing.
I'm not stressed.
I'm also trying over the counter sleeping pills but all they do is wake me up and make me really hyper. In fact, I took one about 30 min ago and now I want to do something really active!

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