Insomnia Disorder Among African-Americans

Introduction

Have you ever experienced the overwhelming desire to sleep but you cannot, regardless of the number of hours that continue to tick by on the clock? Sit in place and imagine being so tired your eyes burn from their inability to shut and get rest. Think about how it feels to finally doze off and begin to sleep, your body receiving the necessary rest it needs, then suddenly you’re awake again. This type of sleeping experience can be referred to as insomnia. Insomnia is one of the various mental health issues that many different communities face, with most who are affected by it not viewing this as a serious issue and being unaware of how to effectively treat this mental health issue. The presence of insomnia in the population worldwide is astounding, with if being for that up to third of adults experience this type of sleep disorder. It has been found that this type of sleep disturbance “is characterized by chronic difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep and/or nonrestorative sleep that is associated with impairment of daytime functioning” (Stokes et al., 2022). The amount of energy that is restored to the human body in the midst of sleep while the body is necessary for functioning to occur. When we do not rest, we become fatigued, incapable of focusing, and experience negative mood changes, which all impact the quality of life. If an individual continues to experience insomnia without ever seeking any type of treatment, the sleep disturbance will eventually impair a person’s daily functioning.

The next question most want to know in regards to insomnia is, “why is it impossible for me to fall asleep?” There are a plethora of reasons that could contribute to the cause of insomnia or other similar sleep disorders, however research supports that the main underlying issues can be related to medical comorbidities such as diabetes or increased blood pressure, as well as other mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Studies suggest that “insomnia was associated with a variety of mental symptoms, and the psychological symptoms were shown to be severe according to the severity of insomnia” (Lee et al., 2022). Being in a state of emotional distress that is accompanied with negative emotions, generally results in distorted thinking patterns, which occupy the mind and make it feel as if there are one million thoughts running per minute that are all creating a sense of uncertainty and bring discomfort. Depression is being in a state of deep sadness, where an individual can experience a loss of interest and self-isolation. It has been found that “depression is a common illness that severely limits psychosocial functioning and diminishes quality of life” (Malhi & Mann, 2018). Anxiety is described as being in a state of worry or unease about an uncertain outcome. When experiencing anxiety, some might notice “feeling of fear that occurs when faced with threatening or stressful situations” (Dean, 2016). The consistent worry and negative thinking patterns associated with both depression and anxiety can disrupt an individual’s sleeping. Though some underlying reasons have been identified by researchers as contributing factors, there is no real reason as to why insomnia is experienced, more data must be found to support that there is a specific cause for insomnia.