Insomnia affects College Students

Insomnia in college students is not something to be taken lightly. The health effects of sleep deprivation among college students can be serious and long-term. Students feeling like they are not getting enough sleep or have trouble falling asleep are suffering from insomnia.

According to Health Services on campus, insomnia occurs in three stages of severity. Transient insomnia lasts just a few nights and usually is triggered by something like excitement or a new sleep schedule. Short-term insomnia can last for up to three weeks and is usually triggered by stress or an illness.

The most severe type is long-term insomnia which lasts longer than a few weeks and causes lack of sleep most nights.

There can be many causes for students to develop insomnia. Lifestyle factors, such as drinking too much caffeine, certain drugs and medications, and alcohol can lead to a lack of sleep.

Junior Allison Platt said she has a couple cups of coffee and a couple cans of Pepsi Max each day.

“I have trouble falling asleep at night because I drink caffeine,” Platt said.

There may be physical factors that affect sleeping, such as being sick or having sleep apnea. Noise, lighting, and temperature changes are examples of environmental factors that may interfere with sleep. Psychological factors like depression, stress, and anxiety can also prevent students from getting a good night’s rest.

Senior Karla Swenson sometimes feels the effects of insomnia.

“There are nights that I try to go to sleep, but I think that I’ve forgotten to do something important. Then I spend an hour, sometimes two just lying in bed worrying,” Swenson said.

Changes can be made in the lives of students like Swenson and Platt to prevent or stop insomnia. It can be helpful to establish a sleeping pattern. By going to bed and getting up at the same time every day.

Avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking may also help students sleep better. If worrying at bedtime causes sleep to not come easily, dedicate sometime throughout the day to write down issues. Thinking of solutions for these issues may help as well.

Clearing the head before trying to sleep will allow for a restful night. Exercising regularly, but not before bed time can also be relaxing and allow for de-stressing. It is important for college students to receive an adequate amount of sleep each night. A restful night’s sleep will allow for students to wake up with feeling refreshed and ready to start the day.