Introduction
The complex world of insomnia reveals itself with unusual complexity in the never-ending search for a good night’s relaxation. Warwaruk’s compelling story, detailed in Warwaruk’s write-up, draws readers into the personal pain of chronic insomnia in this elusive pursuit. It provokingly suggests that insomnia is not just a disorder but also a phobia, the fear of awakening. A critical examination of this fresh viewpoint is prompted by the contrast throughout the story between the author’s personal journey and conventional scientific discourse. The exploratory thesis examines Warwaruk’s claim in its context, analyzing its scientific foundation and considering its more general consequences for diagnosing and treating insomnia.
Summary
Warwaruk struggles with persistent sleeplessness, which is brought on by worry about a significant life change—the desire for a perfect acceptance to a dieting program. Insomnia gets worse despite constant attempts at treatment, resulting in emotional and physical collapses. When considering insomnia as a fear of waking up, one must adjust one’s viewpoint. The author’s breakthrough occurs when she uses exposure therapy to reframe her sleepless nights as a chance for happiness and brightness. It helps her get over her dread and regain some sense of normalcy. The story is told through the author’s frantic attempts to get sleep, the consequences for her physical and emotional well-being, and the life-changing camping trip that forces her to change strategy drastically. Adopting exposure treatment and overcoming the dread of waking up becomes essential to recovery and healing.
Response
In a fresh take on a well-researched and intricate topic, the primary source argues that persistent sleeplessness is a phobia, more precisely, a fear of waking. However, this claim must be fully supported by the source’s data. Daniel Erichsen, a sleep-deprived coach with a unique style, is credited by Warwaruk for this viewpoint. Erichsen’s background may offer insightful perspectives, but the assertion needs to be more credible because he is not regarded as an authority in contemporary sleep medicine (Warwaruk, 2022). The description of persistent insomnia as a phobia is not supported by the text’s citation of credible scientific papers or the opinion of the sleep research establishment.
The textual evidence highlights the author’s journey and the use of occupational therapy as a treatment. However, the evidence is narrative; the scientific foundation is not examined. The robustness of the assertion is compromised by the lack of controlled investigations, statistical data, or more extensive clinical trials to support the phobia hypothesis. It is essential to critically examine the source’s dependence on private memories rather than a more comprehensive scientific foundation because scientific discourse usually demands proof beyond individual stories (Warwaruk, 2022). In the absence of a more thorough foundation, the claim that persistent insomnia is only a phobia seems speculative. It might not apply to people who struggle with a variety of sleep disorders.
According to the European guideline, sleeplessness is a separate disorder with a psychophysiological model impacted by factors predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating the condition. Although the primary source claims that persistent sleeplessness is a phobia of alertness, this guideline offers an extensive approach to evaluation and therapy without specifically addressing this assertion. The recommendation centers on complex etiological hypotheses, including stresses, inappropriate hyperarousal reactions, cognitive processes, and circadian disruptions (Riemann et al., 2017). The source’s viewpoint has changed because sleeplessness is neither supported nor discussed as a fear. Moreover, the recommendation helps cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as the initial course of treatment, which runs counter to the source’s exclusive focus on therapy with exposure.
This guideline concentrates on complex etiological hypotheses, such as circadian influences, maladaptive coping, stressors, hyperarousal, and cognitive aspects. There is a difference in opinion from the source because there is no support or discussion of sleeplessness as a phobia. Additionally, in contrast to the source’s exclusive emphasis on exposure therapy, the recommendation promotes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as the initial form of treatment. More in line with conventional therapies than the application of the exposure therapy strategy suggested in the primary source, the recommendation advocates pharmaceutical intervention in cases when cognitive behavioral therapy is inadequate (Riemann et al., 2017). This deviation challenges the oversimplification in the primary source’s assertion that insomnia is only a phobia of alertness by highlighting the complex and varied aspects of the condition. The wide-ranging and empirically supported approach of the European guidelines highlights the intricacy of sleeplessness, which goes beyond a solitary understanding as a phobia.
Categorization, etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy approaches are all covered in detail in this review of insomnia disease. Insomnia is categorized as a “disorder of insomnia,” with a focus on the intensity of symptoms regardless of underlying medical issues. Insomnia is highlighted in the review as a hyperarousal state that is impacted by several variables, such as genetic, psychological, cognitive, environmental, and underlying medical concerns (Paul et al., 2022). One of the main points of emphasis for the presentation of insomnia disease is the physiological, cerebral, behavioral, and cognitive alterations linked to hyperactivity. For a precise diagnosis, it is stressed that altered diagnostic criteria must be considered, along with investigating pertinent variables and co-existing infections.
Pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) are suggested treatment modalities. On the other hand, adverse effects and physiological tolerance/dependency on medication are recognized, as are the constraints of CBTI accessibility and competent facilitators. To overcome these constraints, the review presents the study of phytocompounds as possible substitutes. Conventional and alternative medicines, or CAMs, such as acupuncture, music, yoga poses, pranayama, and digital cognitive-behavioral therapy, are also being investigated as potential treatments for insomnia (Paul et al., 2022). Overall, the review offers a comprehensive overview of insomnia disease, addressing its intricate nature and the necessity of subtle methods for diagnosis and therapy. Including phytocompounds and alternative therapies shows that there is more to managing insomnia than just using traditional techniques.
Conclusion
Critical analysis must demonstrate a lack of research backing and a possible misunderstanding of the complicated nature of insomnia, even though Warwaruk’s narrative offers a convincing viewpoint on persistent insomnia as a dread of waking. Insomnia’s diverse etiology and range of therapeutic modalities are highlighted by European standards and a thorough review, casting doubt on the exposure therapy’s exclusive focus. With recognition of the complex interaction of genetic, psychological in nature, cognitive, and environmental components in insomnia, the more comprehensive approach includes behavioral therapies, medication, and investigation of alternative remedies. It may not be accurate for everyone, for this reason, to claim that chronic insomnia is only a fear. Instead, a more nuanced view and various treatment approaches are necessary to manage this common sleep issue.
References
Paul, S., Vidusha, K., Thilagar, S., Lakshmanan, D. K., Ravichandran, G., & Arunachalam, A. (2022). Advancement in the contemporary clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies of insomnia disorder. Sleep Medicine, 91, 124–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2022.02.018
Riemann, D., Baglioni, C., Bassetti, C., Bjorvatn, B., Dolenc Groselj, L., Ellis, J. G., Espie, C. A., Garcia-Borreguero, D., Gjerstad, M., Gonçalves, M., Hertenstein, E., Jansson-Fröjmark, M., Jennum, P. J., Leger, D., Nissen, C., Parrino, L., Paunio, T., Pevernagie, D., Verbraecken, J., & Weeß, H.-G. (2017). European guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia. Journal of Sleep Research, 26(6), 675–700. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.12594
Warwaruk , S. (2022, November 8). For one year, I desperately chased sleep. Once I stopped trying, it found me. CBC.ca. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/first-person-insomnia-saniya-warwaruk-1.6573785
write