The effects of not getting enough quality sleep can be anything from trivial to tragic. A person can be irritable due to insomnia and a fatal car accident can be caused by someone who is tired, even exhausted from lack of sleep. Insomnia can be dangerous.

Sleep is a vital part of our good health and involves the whole body but particularly our brain. We use our brain a lot when we are awake. Our brain is a computer which takes in data, processes it and sends out signals to the rest of our body. When we sleep our brain gets the chance to rest or re-charge its batteries. Our brain needs us to go to sleep.

If our sleep is interrupted or not long enough, the insomnia has an effect on our body and specifically on our brain.

The next day we start off with a body which is tired and a brain which is under stress. Our reflexes are slower and our thoughts less sharp or active. At work or at school we are sluggish and not as effective if we had enjoyed a great night's sleep.

We may become irritable and get angry easily. We may have a dizzy spell or feel feint. If we have had a long period without proper sleep we may even start to hallucinate.

Your work and school colleagues may be alarmed at your behavior. Instead of your smiling, witty personality, you are quiet and sullen. If you are driving a car or working machinery, you may become seriously dangerous.

It cannot be stressed enough that everyone needs plenty of quality sleep.

If you feel tired during the day and lack energy, this is probably the effect of insomnia. If you wake in the morning and feel tired, it's possible this is the result of a bad night's sleep, insomnia.

And it is important to know that insomnia affects almost everyone to some extent although most of the time it is only one or two night's insomnia due to you being sick or drunk or worried about an exam, new friend, etc. But the serious effects of insomnia must be taken seriously.

Insomnia can affect different parts of our life. It may contribute to a breakdown in a relationship, it may cause someone to increase their alcohol consumption and it can make a person become rundown and thus more likely to catch a disease.

Do not allow insomnia to damage your health and wellbeing. Take the condition seriously.