My late husband would periodically suffer from insomnia. He'd be up for days at a time.
I read so much about it, I could recite so many reasons for it.
In the first place as a person gets old(er) they don't sleep as much as a younger person. I have friends who have weird (to some) sleep habits.
I've read that sometimes when you sleep and wake up it's because you have something on your mind. Many people consume heavy food or a stimulate and they don't even realize it not long before they go to bed.
I have a friend where he and his wife go to bed between 8:30 and 9:00PM. Everyone knows not to call after about 7:30 at night. Just the way they like it. It took awhile for him to understand I don't like talking to anyone early in the morning, and just as he doesn't like to hear from anyone in the evening, I don't like to talk in the morning (don't call me)!
It is crazy (for want of a better word) to try to decide what is best for each person. I have a friend (yes, more than one friend) who will wake up at around 4:00AM and doesn't go back to sleep (no matter how hard she tries.
I told her if I did that every day I'd be a walking zombie. Not getting enough sleep (whatever it is for your body) is actually very dangerous.
I have had 4 sleep studies done. I, along with many, many people have sleep apnea. A lot of old(er) people have it, but also some younger people do, they never realize it.
If you wake up and feel like a zombie all day long, chances are you have sleep apnea. You can get a sleep study done in a controlled environment.
They put so many wires in you (head, legs, heart, etc) you'll say, "There is no way I can get to sleep". But you do. They wake you up at about 7:00AM and most people go to work. Then they get the results. It will tell you how many times you wake up in the night.
There are machines you use to put air in you to help you sleep through the night (if you need it). They have come a long way with these machines and many people use them.
So, in conclusion, I would say to anyone who feels like day after day (not just here and there) if they feel very tired all of the time, go to your Dr and after blood work (whatever he decides) ask if he will support you having a sleep study done.
It could save your life. Also, only you know how you feel day after day. I've read that Americans don't get the sleep they need, it's supposedly an epidemic (that word is way over used). It is important to follow a routine and you can re-set your sleep pattern. There are many interesting articles on sleep disorders.
No one can judge someone else. Period.
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