A Banker increasingly underperforms in his workplace. He is constantly tired and stressed out and is repeatedly scolded by his superiors. He goes to bed at night but cannot fall asleep thinking about how his day went and the anticipation of the following day keeps him awake until late. The cycle continues.
Sleep:
Sleep helps in metabolic restoration, memory processing and learning. Our sleep requirements decrease as we grow older.
How much sleep do we really need?
Age Sleep Requirements*
Newborns (0–3 months)
14 to 17 hours
Infants (4–11 months)
12 to 15 hours
Toddlers (1–2 years)
11 to 14 hours
Preschoolers (3–4 years)
10 to 13 hours
School-age children (5–12 years)
9 to 11 hours
Teenagers (13–17 years)
8 to 10 hours
Adults (18–64 years)
7 to 9 hours
Older Adults (65 years and over)
6 to 8 hours
What does sleep deprivation do?
Short term: Causes Irritability, impaired judgement, memory lapses, delayed reaction times, tiredness and lethargy.
Long term: There is an increased risk of sleep disorders, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
What is sleep debt?
The longer a person is awake, the more they feel a need to sleep, medically referred to as Sleep Debt. Until that is settled, their physical discomfort continues.
How do I address Sleep Issues?
Most sleep disorders can be addressed by professional counselors through relaxation therapies, stress release exercises and other techniques. Some patients, however, require medical treatment.
Who do I talk to if I have sleep issues?
You talk to a psychiatrist. Most sleep disorders are psychological in origin or related to lifestyle. Very rarely sleep disorders may be organic and patients might have to undergo some tests to evaluate their sleep disorder.
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