"Insomnia" has become a word lightly thrown around, one used in casual conversation whenever someone brings up the topic of a chaotic sleeping schedule. However, in the midst of our light-hearted jest, we often fail to acknowledge the gravity of insomnia as a medical condition and the connotations it holds for the person suffering from it.

Defined as a common sleep disorder that is characterised by difficulty in falling asleep or in staying asleep, insomnia affects the lives of an appreciable number of young adults, particularly in this period following the Covid-19 pandemic. The reasons behind it are numerous, as are the malignant ways it shapes a person's life.

Emotional, mental, and/or physical trauma has been known to be a major cause of chronic insomnia that stretches over months or years. Stress, anxiety, and discomfort are known to be the main culprits behind acute or short-term insomnia. Turmoil due to a multitude of reasons during the pandemic as well as the skewing of sleep schedules because of months of inactivity can now be seen resulting in a new wave of sleeping trouble in people.

The appearance of under-eye bags and dark circles are only the most visible signs of insomnia. This insidious disease takes hold of a person's life in many more nefarious ways, leaving them drained and disconnected.

The lives of young adults who are affected by insomnia have to suffer a major shift. The primary cause of this is an increased level of fatigue because of irregularity in sleep. These individuals struggle to fall asleep till the early hours of the morning only for their sleep to be disrupted by commitments such as classes and work. Thus, they start their day off with feelings of tiredness. This can mean that they remain sluggish for the better part of the day. Not only does this affect their work or academic performance, but it also means they feel lethargic and are more likely to fall prey to procrastination.

Material productivity is not the sole victim of insomnia. The absence of sleep can, in many cases, mean that people feel grouchy and moody. It leaves them dissatisfied with their lives and generally anxious about how they can deal with their sleeping disorder. The moodiness can mean they come off as stand-offish to other people. This can adversely impact their social dynamics and interpersonal relationships. If their insomnia is a result of pre-existing mental conditions, it can further aggravate them. The culmination of all this can finally present as depression.

Insomnia has also been known to cause health issues such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases.

Although insomnia can sometimes go away on its own, in certain cases clinical intervention might become necessary. Medication is available and mental health professionals are equipped to deal with chronic insomnia with a hands-on approach. However, the availability of help isn't the hard part of treating insomnia. The difficulty arises in young adults being aware that their sleeping problems are caused by a genuine medical condition and that there are means that can help them resolve these issues.

Zaima is a struggling student, a failed guitarist and a poet in need of better poetic ideas. Send her your sympathies at zaima2004adrita@gmail.com