Welcome to Insomnia and Sleeplessness

A universal complaint among shiftworkers are difficulties in initiating and maintaining sleep. This leads to related fatigue and mood problems, especially when sleep and work are mismatched to the normal schedule of sleep and activity.

Symptoms include:

1) Insomnia during the major sleep period, or

2) excessive sleepiness during the major waking period (when working nightshift or frequently changing shiftwork).

These problems tend to be worse when work schedules are poorly organised. 

Work schedules that rotate in a clockwise fashion (morning followed by by afternoon followed by night shift) and allow sufficient days off between shifts for recovery is the least worst of all shiftwork patterns.

In sleep deprived shiftworkers, the main period of sleep is often greatly reduced. Strategically timed naps can be helpful to ameliorate the situation. 

Workers coming off nightshift should wear sunglasses, particularly if they drive home to sleep in the morning. This helps minimise the effects of bright light on the circadian clock.