How big an issue is sleep?

This has been a very interesting thread. I thank everyone for sharing their experiences. I don't sleep much. I'm usually 5-6 1/2 hours. I try not to let it effect my daily activity, but I'm sure it does. I know some insomnia sufferers, and it seems really dreadful. I had a bout my freshman year of college, and couldn't belive the hell it was. I think one reason I sleep so little now is so that I fall asleep fast when my head hits the pillow. I've never heard of anyone taking Halcion, NK French, but that is a terrible story. Isn't that a hallucinogen of sorts? I thought ambien, lunesta and whatever the new thing is were supposed to be somewhat better. But they all appear to be somewhat addictive, so I'm not biting. I guess a lot of people are living with sleep deprivation. We're a threat on the roads. I have read that hormonal fluctuations drive insomnia. Guess that's more of a problem for women. But I thought I'd say that in case someone didn't care to. It's just what I've read. There have been a lot of articles in the newspaper lately about insomnia. Has anyone been been to a sleep clinic? Or is that more for sleep apnea? Islandsox: I think you should get another air conditioner. It's pretty tough to fall asleep when someone else is reading. Dark, cold, quiet works for me.

This has been a very interesting thread. I thank everyone for sharing their experiences. I don't sleep much. I'm usually 5-6 1/2 hours. I try not to let it effect my daily activity, but I'm sure it does. I know some insomnia sufferers, and it seems really dreadful. I had a bout my freshman year of college, and couldn't belive the hell it was. I think one reason I sleep so little now is so that I fall asleep fast when my head hits the pillow. I've never heard of anyone taking Halcion, NK French, but that is a terrible story. Isn't that a hallucinogen of sorts? I thought ambien, lunesta and whatever the new thing is were supposed to be somewhat better. But they all appear to be somewhat addictive, so I'm not biting. I guess a lot of people are living with sleep deprivation. We're a threat on the roads. I have read that hormonal fluctuations drive insomnia. Guess that's more of a problem for women. But I thought I'd say that in case someone didn't care to. It's just what I've read. There have been a lot of articles in the newspaper lately about insomnia. Has anyone been been to a sleep clinic? Or is that more for sleep apnea? Islandsox: I think you should get another air conditioner. It's pretty tough to fall asleep when someone else is reading. Dark, cold, quiet works for me.