Many people use their smartphones or computers before sleeping. Once they finish using these devices, they feel some difficulty falling into sleep. It's about digital insomnia.
The reason for this lies in the blue light emitted by these devices. It affects us at the brain level, causing a reduction in the release of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that has, among its functions, the role of warning the body that it is time to sleep.
This phenomenon, so common in the present day, is known as digital insomnia. It is a disorder that affects sleep, leading us to sleep less or in worse conditions. This happens not only because of the lights and screens, but also because of the difficulty in disconnecting from daily worries.
THE STIMULES OF THE BRAIN THAT PROVOKE THE DIGITAL INSONIO
There are a lot of people who take a look at the cell phone before sleep, and many also do it when they wake up at dawn.
On the other hand, many other people have the habit of moving on the mobile as soon as they wake up - it's the first thing they do. All this means that we can not separate contact technology, social networks and the work of our moments of rest.
The succession of screens and images and hyperactivity fostered by the Internet stimulate the brain in an exaggerated way. This causes our nervous system to send an opposite signal of what it needs in the hours of sleep.
THE DIGITAL INSOMNIA AND THE LIGHT OF THE SCREENS
As already mentioned, artificial light emitted by devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets can be one of the most common causes of digital insomnia. The backlit screens transform the melatonin distribution.
This hormone should begin to be released in the body at least one hour before bedtime. However, the effect of the screens to change their production, leading to the difficulty to fall asleep. Given this, some elements such as e-readers, whose screens are usually opaque and black and white, are less harmful.
What are the main causes of digital insomnia?
In addition to the aforementioned digital display lights, there are other factors responsible for this type of insomnia. They are the following:
- The marathons of television series *
Spending many hours in front of the television, especially before bedtime, can change our rest. In this sense, a less damaging pastime can be reading before bedtime. In addition, reading can be a good method to relax and start to fall asleep.
- Do not leave the phone aside *
Using the phone as an alarm and leaving it on the side of the bed makes it not just a mobile phone. He ends up becoming a device used at all times, and we do not leave out even at bedtime. The use of the phone before sleep makes it impossible to disconnect from social networks and daily concerns.
- Video games on the Internet *
Internet games can be truly addictive. Many people spend a lot of hours immersed in them. These people prolong the playing time until bedtime.
In addition, for a long time that video games are no longer manufactured almost exclusively to teenagers. Nowadays, people with very different ages consume these products. However, despite having its positive side, it also increases the problems of digital insomnia.
How to relax a hyperactive brain?
As the problem of digital insomnia increases, different solutions also arise that try to soften the effects of technology on our rest. A curious example is the return of the songs of ninar.
These classic songs with which parents helped their children to sleep were incorporated into several mobile applications to allow us to sleep better. However, this implies the irony of continuing to depend on the mobile phone until it goes to sleep.
On the other side we have the use of earplugs, which allow us to isolate ourselves from external noises that prevent us from sleeping. There is also the use of white noise, with which we can stop paying attention to the distractions that bother us during the night.
The reading is highly recommended and, above all, the reduction of the time of use of electronic devices also. Even, there is already a pharmacological treatment for it, although in that case it is more convenient to seek a doctor.