Insomnia

This weeks topic of insomnia was very interesting. I have always been interested in sleeping disorders and I even considered writing my research paper on sleep disorders. Insomnia is a freighting disorder to look at because of all of the ways the disorder can harm you or another person. After being forced awake for so long, insomnia can cause serious sleep deprivation that can end up in serious problems. In William Dement's The Promise of Sleep, he recounts a time when an extended family member was undergoing lots of stress. Helen sought help from a clinic but did not receive much but common advice. After several days of sleep deprivation, Helen's body could not take the stress any longer and gave out on her at the worst possible time. Helen got into a car accident after suddenly falling asleep on the wheel. This is just one account of injury induced by insomnia. Insomnia is a rising problem in our society especially with the fact that the later you can stay up working, the better you look as a hard worker. I believe that awareness of insomnia and other sleep disorders should be more prevalent, so that people like Helen are not put in a situation of high danger like she was.

Dement, The Promise of Sleep, part of ch. 6  (pgs. 131-139)