Sleepless in a slumbering world
The enduring struggle of insomnia and sleep-deprived individuals
While the wind whispers and the damp night yearns for the dawn, sleep hides between people's thoughts. As night falls, people toss and turn but are unable to drift into sleep. Several disorders make it difficult for many people to fall asleep deeply despite their efforts.
Sleep disorders have become a prominent topic of discussion in the past two decades, ranging from deprivation to insomnia. Those who suffer from various sleep issues have unique stories to share, often tied to their ambitions, career changes, and finances.
Finding themselves trapped in a relentless cycle of sleeplessness, unable to find sleep no matter how hard they try; Victoria Kuti, Tolu Oyesola and Luke Dickson made a decision to find a lasting solution to the burden of sleeplessness and seek coping mechanisms.
And people like Victoria, Tolu and Luke are not alone in this situation, other people around the world also experience sleep-related difficulties due to stress, anxiety and screen.
Like the trio, many people experience sleep-related difficulties due to stress, anxiety, work and school schedules, including screen time. According to a 2019 Philips Global Sleep Survey, about 62% of adults worldwide said they don't have enough sleep at all when they go to bed.
The ideal amount of sleep for healthy adults is seven hours per night, but the recommended sleep time is hard to achieve if there is a sleep problem.
The Recovery Village, a doctor-led behavioural healthcare organisation that offers compassionate, evidence-based care for addiction described sleep disorders as long-term sleep issues that affect the capacity to function or quality of life. Getting less than seven hours of sleep each night increases the chance of accidents, diabetes, heart disease, and lowered immunity.
According to the organisation, the prevalence of sleep disorders varies widely depending on individual studies and disorders. However, the prevalence of sleep disorders in the general population ranges from 20 per cent to 41 per cent. The organisation also revealed commonly diagnosed sleep disorders include insomnia which substantially impacts sleep quality.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defined Insomnia as having difficulty falling or staying asleep, "people who lie awake for long periods in the middle of the night, awake too early or can only sleep for short periods may live with this condition".
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), sleep problems associated with insomnia occur at least three nights each week and persist for at least three months.
In this multimedia report, Victoria Kuti, a recent transitioner to the tech industry, Luke Dickson, a student and actor, and Tolu Oyesola, an athlete, shared a common thread -- how they battled insomnia for years. Despite their differing backgrounds, they discussed how lack of sleep impacted their well-being and productivity.
Luke Dickson,Tolu Oyesola and Victoria Kuti narrates their experience with sleep disorder.
LUKE DICKSON
"Career and Screen keeps me awake"
Luke, a film student, lecturer, actor, and model, in his mid-twenties, has become an unlikely spokesperson for the struggles of sleep disorders and fizzy drink consumption. Luke has faced numerous challenges in his personal life, including the inability to sleep and an addiction to sugary drinks.
However, life as a film student was not easy, Luke's sleep issues began when he had to juggle a demanding academic schedule with a part-time job and various extracurricular activities. Despite his busy schedule, Luke refused to let his dreams fall by the wayside, and he worked tirelessly to hone his skills as a filmmaker and actor.
The year three student of Film and Media Art said he struggled to fall asleep at night and felt groggy and sometimes unfocused during the day. Despite some personal concerns, Luke hasn't sought medical treatment for his condition, believing he could manage it independently.
" I am a creative person and I stay up late into the night working on film projects, studying and surfing the net,".
Luke said despite his busy schedule and demanding lifestyle, he manages to stay energetic and productive throughout the day, inspiring his classmates with his dedication and perseverance
"To cope with my lack of sleep, I rely on sugary drinks, such as soda to stay alert and focused. And found myself drinking multiple bottles of soda a day. According to him, I take a can of energy drink daily but I can take five bottles of coke in a day, this has helped me stay alert all day," he said.
Rather than let exhaustion take over, he decided to embrace his unusual sleep schedule, using the extra hours in his day to focus on his creative pursuits. And surprisingly, this decision has only made him more productive and inspired.
"I am deriving strategies that will make me sleep better," he said
Luke explained how not sleeping nearly cost his relationships.
"I vow to start building better sleep hygiene when I slept off at the wrong time due to tiredness and missed my partner's show, it was an emotional month for me and I would not want a repetition of such again"
Tolu Oyesola
"Deadline makes me sweat bullets"
Tolu, a 19-year-old student, athlete, and working professional, manages to excel in all areas of her life, from her academic pursuits to her athletic endeavours and professional career despite being an insomniac. Tolu's journey began when she gained admission to study Biological Science in 2019 at the University of Bolton.
"Combining academics, work, and sports actually changed my sleep pattern and the last time I slept for 8 hours was two years ago's Christmas,"she said.
As a player on the university of Bolton's nest ball team, Tolu spends hours training, working, and reading and often late into the night. But even with such a demanding schedule and being an introvert, the year two undergraduate manages to maintain top grades in her classes
" I once failed an exam due to sleep deprivation, I studied all night, I didn't rest at all, I got to the examination hall, attempt two questions, and slept off. I will not want a repetition again," she said
Rather than let the sleep condition hold her back, however, Tolu decided to embrace her unique sleep patterns and find ways to maximize her productivity during the day.
"I started exercising regularly, which not only helped me manage stress but also gave me a boost of energy and focus, however, I still get sore muscles because I am unable to rest well.
She finds it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep despite seeking medical help leaving him feeling tired and unrefreshed during the day.
"At first, I thought it was just a phase," Tolu says. "I figured I'd get back to my regular sleeping habits eventually. But the more I tried to force myself to sleep, the more frustrated I got. It just didn't feel natural to me." As we wrap up our interview, Tolu slips on her netball cleats and heads out to the sports centre at the university of Bolton
Tolu is not discouraged by the challenges caused by insomnia, she believes that it will be over soon.
Tranquillity
Tranquillity
Victoria Kuti
My Goals Keep Me Awake
Victoria, 34, is a software analyst in the United Kingdom. She had always been a high achiever, driven by a relentless work ethic that demanded nothing but the best from herself.
Victoria can be said to be deprived of sleep due to her lifestyle patterns. She had been like this for as long as she could remember, and while it had never affected her work, it had taken a toll on her physical and mental health.
"If I really want something, I would go for it, even if it means sacrificing sleep and that is partly what got me here".
She described her days as a 'blur of meetings and deadlines', while her mind raced with code and algorithms, while her body struggled to keep up due to tiredness.
"That is why you will always find me with a cup of tea. I found time to read, to write, and to think when everywhere is calm".
She said she learned to appreciate the beauty of the night sky from her window, the stillness of the streets, and the rhythms of her spouse's breath while awake.
" My not sleeping does not have anything to caffeine because I don't take coffee, I am just wired that way and the funny thing is that I nap in strange places," she said
According to her, the only pain lack of sleep cost me was a misunderstanding with my partner.
"I am something else when I don't sleep well, I am necessarily sarcastic, moody with a negative attitude and that's not who I am".
Introspective
Introspective
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