My sleeping disorder is proving to be a disaster

Dear Diana,
I'm a 27-year-old media professional who is suffering from severe sleeping disorders. I keep falling asleep at all the wrong placesu00a0-- at my working desk, conference halls and railway platforms. I rarely sleep at night and watch movies to kill time. I paid my physician a visit but all he could do was blame my condition on stress and work load. Anyway I wasn't expecting sleeping pills from him. My malady is proving to be a disaster in my relationship too. My girlfriend doesn't seem to understand me, either. Everybody I know assumes that my dark circles are a sign of depression but I'm hardly depressed. I just don't sleep like I once used to.u00a0
- Ashraf

Illustration/ Satish Acharya

Dear Ashraf,
You are suffering from a medical disorder and need attention. Some sleep disorders are serious enough to interfere with normal physical, mental and emotional functioning. As it is playing havoc with your personal and professional life, you need help urgently. Meanwhile in your daily life, try to live the way others do. After work, ensure that you avoid late nights. Stop watching movies back-to-back throughout the night, instead eat a well balanced diet and try to sleep by 11 pm. Initially it will be tough as your system has gone haywire, but over a period of time and along with medical help, things will be back on track. Remember in the long run it will have telling effects on your health so take care right now.

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