Evaluation of Sleep Impairment

Troubles with WAKEFULNESS

5) Do you have a problem staying awake during the day?

1) No

2) Get drowsy sometimes

3) Fall asleep suddenly or collapse, without control

 

5.5) Do you fall asleep easily when you sit still?

1) No

2) Occasionally, will fall asleep in meetings or other quiet long-lasting events

3) Yes, usually fall asleep shortly after starting to watch TV

4) Yes, will fall asleep within 5 minutes if sitting in quiet room

103) Do you tend to fall asleep or get drowsy when you are driving? Have you ever gotten into an accident after falling asleep at the wheel?

1) No

2) Occasionally, get drowsy when driving

3) Yes, frequently get drowsy when driving

4) Yes, have fallen asleep at the wheel

5) Yes, have gotten in to an accident after falling asleep at the wheel

 

Staying awake during the day is a good sign that your sleep is not sufficient to serve your waking needs. These items are also used in diagnosing sleep disoders.

Total your answers for this section

If less than 7 then go onto next section

If more than 7 then be sure to go here Sleep Disorders, Do you have one?

Troubles with MEMORY

19) How is your memory, both long and short-term? Are you having difficulty with forgetfulness?

1) No troubles

2) Forgetting a lot

3) Forgetting just immediate things

4) Forgetting things from a long time ago

Troubles with DAYTIME FUNCTIONING

22) Do you feel tired, exhausted, washed out, or sleepy during the day?

1) No

2) Yes

23) Does it show in your physical appearance when you don’t sleep well?

1) No

2) Yes

83) Do you feel irritable, tense, nervous, groggy, depressed, anxious, grouchy, hostile, angry, or confused?

1) No

2) Yes

176) Do you avoid or cancel obligations (social, family, occupational) after a poor night’s sleep?

1) No

2) Yes

Many people troubled by insomnia say they feel tired, exhausted, etc. yet report that it doesn't show in their physical appearance. Are we a culture of coverups? They will also say they feel irritable, anxious, or grouchy, and others are likely to agree, so the coverup probably doesn't apply to moods and emotions.

If the total of your questions is more than 6 then your daytime functioning is probably impaired. But, at this point, it's not possible to say that lack of sleep is what has caused it.

General Fears and Other Troubles

11) When you spend more time in bed do you get more sleep and feel better the next day?

1) No

2) Yes

If your answer is Yes, then it is likely that your sleep problems are related to a stressful schedule. Click here for some tips on de-stressing yourself.

173) Is your sleep getting worse all the time and you wonder if help is impossible?

1) No

2) Yes (Please Describe)

175) Is insomnia ruining your ability to enjoy life and do what you want?

1) No

2) Yes

If you answered Yes to these two questions, your despair is likely to be getting in the way. It is reasonable and common to feel despair about a sleep problem, it's just that despair also tends to make people want to give up solving the problem.

As an antidote to despair, keep on working through these questions and learn to be very honest with yourself when you answer them. Tell yourself "I'm going to keep going until I solve this problem."

Sleep Impairment

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