<p>Sleeplessness is often due to stress. But what if it isn’t? What if you get addicted <br />to doing fun things, keep postponing sleep and then at one point, become an insomniac? <br /><br /></p>.<p>Teenagers are constantly on their laptops, iPads and mobiles, chatting, watching movies or texting. Their need for social networking seems to coincide with their need for sleep.<br />Many teenagers today experience slight insomnia. Saaniya Zaveri, a communications student, says, “What I have is every teenager’s version of insomnia. I can’t sleep because of the million distractions around me. With BlackBerry Messenger, Whatsapp, TV shows and Facebook, who can sleep?” <br /><br />The many distractions do hinder sleep. Huma Hussain, another youngster, says, “My inability to sleep started around four years ago. It is mainly because the internet is so interesting and I waste most of my time on it.” <br /><br />Like many other students, it started with studying late at night or procrastination. “I got used to it. It’s only a problem when I have to be in class early or somewhere else,” she adds.<br /><br />Some are not entirely insomniac but still experience sleeplessness on and off. Sanithra Raju, an interior design student, says, “I started having problems with sleep a few weeks ago. I think it’s because of stress and tension about various things like coursework and future.” <br /><br />Teenagers are not the only ones affected. The changed lifestyles and stiff competition in all fields probably add to this. Lalitha Murthy, a counsellor, says, “I think it’s because of the lifestyle that teenagers lead nowadays. The biological clockwork is all wrong. There is also excessive stress of achievement.” <br /><br />She says she hasn’t had any teen patients with sleeping problems but she does often note “irritability, droopy eyes and low attention”, the tell-tale signs of sleep deprivation. <br />Another side effect of an erratic sleep pattern is weight gain. <br /><br />Sleepless nights are often followed by excessive eating or eating junk food the next day. Physical exercise during the day can break the cycle of insomnia. <br /><br />Most of all, resist the temptation to stay up late and talk, Skype, text someone, watch that TV show, or whatever it is that seems more interesting than sleep. <br />Lack of sleep can also mean low energy levels. If you don’t snooze, you lose!<br /></p>
<p>Sleeplessness is often due to stress. But what if it isn’t? What if you get addicted <br />to doing fun things, keep postponing sleep and then at one point, become an insomniac? <br /><br /></p>.<p>Teenagers are constantly on their laptops, iPads and mobiles, chatting, watching movies or texting. Their need for social networking seems to coincide with their need for sleep.<br />Many teenagers today experience slight insomnia. Saaniya Zaveri, a communications student, says, “What I have is every teenager’s version of insomnia. I can’t sleep because of the million distractions around me. With BlackBerry Messenger, Whatsapp, TV shows and Facebook, who can sleep?” <br /><br />The many distractions do hinder sleep. Huma Hussain, another youngster, says, “My inability to sleep started around four years ago. It is mainly because the internet is so interesting and I waste most of my time on it.” <br /><br />Like many other students, it started with studying late at night or procrastination. “I got used to it. It’s only a problem when I have to be in class early or somewhere else,” she adds.<br /><br />Some are not entirely insomniac but still experience sleeplessness on and off. Sanithra Raju, an interior design student, says, “I started having problems with sleep a few weeks ago. I think it’s because of stress and tension about various things like coursework and future.” <br /><br />Teenagers are not the only ones affected. The changed lifestyles and stiff competition in all fields probably add to this. Lalitha Murthy, a counsellor, says, “I think it’s because of the lifestyle that teenagers lead nowadays. The biological clockwork is all wrong. There is also excessive stress of achievement.” <br /><br />She says she hasn’t had any teen patients with sleeping problems but she does often note “irritability, droopy eyes and low attention”, the tell-tale signs of sleep deprivation. <br />Another side effect of an erratic sleep pattern is weight gain. <br /><br />Sleepless nights are often followed by excessive eating or eating junk food the next day. Physical exercise during the day can break the cycle of insomnia. <br /><br />Most of all, resist the temptation to stay up late and talk, Skype, text someone, watch that TV show, or whatever it is that seems more interesting than sleep. <br />Lack of sleep can also mean low energy levels. If you don’t snooze, you lose!<br /></p>