Insomnia – How It Features In Popular Culture

Of all the disorders featured in books, songs or on film, insomnia sleep disorder is not. ‘Insomnia’ written by Sephen King, well-known for his horror novels and ‘Taxi Driver’ is a 1976, robert DeNiro film; just two cult classics out of many. Artists, such as Vanessa Carlton, Radiohead and Green Day, have written and recorded songs about insomnia. Over 28 songs have been written and recorded over the years. Then there was the ‘Fight Club’, starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt; based on a Chuck Palakniuk novel, about a manic insomniac character. This film was well loved over 6 years ago. Insomnia, it seems, is the most common sleep disorder filmed, wrote about and sang about to a point of experiencing the problem. People aren’t fully aware of how problematic this is for those who suffer from it.

Hospital workers, working double shifts, and college students, on all night cram sessions for the next day exams, were a part of the coffee movement and the wide spread of coffee shops. Starbucks, Seattle’s Best and Caribou Coffee, offering designer coffees to help those who need to stay awake due to their busy schedules. When coffee stops working, they turned to over the counter medication such as Vivarin. When taken as directed on the package, it is the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee; thus, interfering with the regular sleeping function of the body.

This well loved concept ‘sleep is over rated’ is in fact a health problem. When the body is forced to continue to function, when it requires sleep, health issues ensue. One health issue is the effect on the immune system. Without the proper amount of sleep for the body, the immune system fails to ward off coulds and the flu properly. Severe disorientation is another health problem associated with lack of sleep.

Getting at least 6 hours of sleep in a 24 hour cycle allows the body’s digestive system to rest. Which, 70% of the immune system is connected to the digestive system; making it a smart concept to sleep when the body needs it. Occasional naps help to re-energize the body and provide you with a burst of energy. This works better then coffee or caffeine pills. Besides the fact, the body develops a resistance to coffee or caffeine in soda pops. The body will also crash when the caffeine high wears off, causing the coffee drinker to get very tired, at a quicker rate.

Some of the literature published, movies that are filmed and songs recorded, addressing the insomnia disorder, are from a person’s own experience. Songs tell a tale, just as a book or film; providing inside information on the problem. This insight will help others know the effects of insomnia sleep disorder, from the more mild cases and addressing the more severe cases. The better understanding there is on insomnia sleep disorder, the higher the chance of finding a cure. Either way, if the literature and other media forms are from personal experiences or just some research on the matter, insomnia has influenced a large number of songs, some movies and a small series of books; portraying the characters suffering from this disorder or similar sleep disorders.