CREDIT: CLINICAOMEGAZETA.COM

Your first year in post-secondary education is always a little crazy. From the day you step onto campus and spend your first night in residence, prepare for sleepless nights.

The former quiet haven of your parents' house has been replaced by the incessant bass coming from the music of your neighbour's very expensive sound system. You check your alarm clock every five minutes to see how much time has passed since the relentless attack of Alesso on your eardrums. Sleep has been replaced with your new hobby of counting how many bumps are on your popcorn ceiling. Sound familiar? Then you might be insomnia's newest victim.

If you didn't have sleeping problems before you came to school, chances are you'll develop them at some point — it's an inescapable fact of life.

Insomnia is characterized by a difficulty falling or staying asleep. Sometimes it exists for short periods of time, usually having been triggered by temporary factors such as stress. Sufferers of chronic insomnia have reoccurring bouts throughout their life. Chronic insomniac Cecil Sutton said that massive weather changes are one of the triggers of his insomnia. When he tries to sleep, he avoids watching television as it keeps him awake and instead reads to help slow down his mind.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, periodic bouts of stress-induced insomnia are normal. Alleviating the stress usually dissipates the insomnia. Sutton said he has noticed the effect it has on his life.

“I am late for work and I see a decrease in my job performance and I can't concentrate.”

When you consult your physician about sleeping issues, they may refer you to a sleep clinic, which involves an overnight stay to monitor your sleeping patterns. Sleeping patterns work in four stages. The Encyclopedia of Science describes Stage 1 as the initial start to your sleep. You close your eyes and you are in a light slumber, as you fall deeper into sleep you reach Stage 2, which is considered your first “true” sleep. Stages 3 and 4 have you on your way to dreaming about that test you're going to ace tomorrow. Stage 4 is typically referred to as REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. It is the stage where your brain is at the end of the sleep cycle and you're lightly sleeping and experiencing vivid dreaming. This process repeats itself throughout the night.

Experts say that teenagers require around nine and half hours of sleep per night in order to be healthy. Sleep is our body's way of regenerating, similar to plugging your phone in to charge its battery. If you only sleep for five hours each night, your body and mind may only be operating at 75 per cent of its full potential.

Sufferers of insomnia operate at a constant 75 per cent or lower. Their minds inability to shut off doesn't allow them to reach stages of sleep successfully. For students, operating at 100 per cent is so important to their success. Consulting a doctor at beginning stages of insomnia will greatly help in reducing your potential for long-term insomnia.