I struggle with bouts of insomnia. Right now I'm in a phase where, as exhausted as I am, I'm up through all hours of the night. Then, after I finally catch a few hours of sleep I wake up and walk through the day like a zombie. It's a crossroads of sorts; I'm either going to snap out of it and get back to my normal sleep pattern or I'm going to go into what I call "full-fledged insomnia" and get to the point where I'm not tired at all and can stay up all day and night. It's a frustrating and unhealthy disorder that seeps into all corners of your life. Several years ago my doctor prescribed sleep meds for me, but I had an unusual and uncomfortable reaction. Though my doctor assures me there are other medications that would work better for me, I've been scared of trying them. I choose to manage my insomnia by environment, exercise, and diet. Usually it works, though like right now my insomnia still can rear its ugly head from time to time.

Many celebrities have fessed up to having insomnia, too. With their fast-paced and high-stress lives, it's no wonder. Most recently, Heath Ledger died from an accidental overdose of a combination of sleep meds, an antihistamine, and two pain relievers. In the weeks prior to his death he had openly discussed how desperate he was for sleep.Insomnia is often thought of as a secondary disorder -- resulting from stress, anxiety, or depression. While that certainly can be true, the tables can be turned and insomnia can be the causative factor not the result. Surveys show that roughly 10-15% of US adults suffer from chronic insomnia. Insomniacs are more likely to have work or car accidents, they statistically have more visits to doctors and to the hospital, and (speaking from personal experience) your lack of sleep can affect your relationships. For some, the desperation for sleep can lead to a misuse of OTC and prescribed sleep medications.