In the city of San Luis Obispo, a brain injury may lead to the inability to wake up. Sleep disturbances following a brain injury is common, and these disorders can cause depression, fatigue, anxiety, irritability and overall health problems. When a person cannot wake up at all, they are said to be in a coma. When a person finds it difficult to stay awake, they are said to be experiencing a type of sleep disturbance.

Common sleep disorders following a traumatic brain injury include:

  • Insomnia: The inability to fall or stay asleep. It can also describe sleep that does not make people feel rested. It can worsen the effects of a brain injury. Insomnia is normally worse immediately following the brain injury and resolves in time.
  • Extreme drowsiness during the day. People who have this type of disturbance may find it difficult to hold a job or stay in school.
  • Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome: This is a mixing up of the typical sleep pattern experienced by the average person.
  • Narcolepsy: This is an inability to stay awake. People suffering with narcolepsy fall asleep during the day and are unable to control doing so.

There are a variety of reasons that a person may experience sleep disorders following a brain injury, including an inability to wake up. A direct hit to the brain, such as when the brain hits the interior of the skull, can cause sleep disorders. Prescription medication following a traumatic brain injury can also worsen sleep disorders, including an inability to remain awake.