Nighttime wakefulness, or insomnia as many label it, is a serious problem robbing many of us of our stamina and ability to manage our lives. Individuals cannot be on top of their game if they are not getting an adequate amount of zzz's. This problem becomes compounded when the sleeplessness becomes chronic leading to month's even years of sleeplessness.

It is unknown exactly how many individuals suffer from some form of sleep disorder but there is a ton of money being spent on over-the-counter sleep aides, visits to their physicians and other facilities to stop the problem. As of yet, there are no definitive cures for those sleepless nights, however, much has been done in the way of diagnosis and there are some behavioral treatments that seem to help.

First and foremost, it is essential to rule out any physiological problem that could be at the root of the sleep problems. For example, we've heard a lot about sleep apnea (many of those married to snorers are familiar with this problem). An inability to breathe at night can rob the person of essential hours of sleep. Many snoring individuals don't realize they are actually having problems, they simply wake up in the morning feeling tired. This is simply one of the many physical problems contributing to sleeplessness.

Psychological or emotional issues can also be a huge contributing factor to sleeplessness. The individual suffering from wakeful nights due to some emotional stress may not readily seek help, as they believe the problem will simply go away on its own. The only things in life that seem to go away on their own are our waistlines and our hairlines. The problem with allowing the wakefulness to ameliorate itself is that it many times does not. Therefore, creating a bigger problem than an individual had bargained for.

Sleep is something our body craves, however, it is also has a habitual nature to it. There are scads of books written about how to get your baby or child to sleep. Why do we train our children to become good sleepers if it is such a natural process? The answer is that good sleeping habits are cultivated and learned from early on. As adults, we take these well-learned lessons for granted and no longer pay attention to the hours preceding sleep. Instead, we expect our bodies to simply respond the way we want them to. Bodily functions do not respond well to unreasonable demands. Instead, we need to return to the basic common sense principles of sleep taught to us by our families.

Sleeplessness is not simply a problem confronted by the individual. Of course, the wakeful person feels isolated and alone in the wee hours of the morning. However, chronic sleeping problems disrupt the rhythms of an entire family. The partner's sleep may also be extremely hampered by the restlessness and constant waking of the insomniac. Parenting is never easy and certainly only becomes more of a struggle when attempted by the severely sleep deprived. Thus, insomnia is a family problem and should be considered as such. If the problem has escalated it may be time to consider seeking treatment.