In 2005 my cousin was involved in an accident that paralyzed him from the waist down.  Shortly after, I began waking up at 3 am and was unable to go back to sleep.  I would lie awake, thinking about work and other things.  For the first two weeks, I didn't notice anything.  But shortly after, it became apparent how much my lack of sleep was affecting my work performance as a manager at a large retail chain.  I was terse and downright rude with employees, I had panic attacks whenever the smallest obstacle presented itself, and I frequently had to go to my office to cry for no apparent reason.  I endured this for about a month before I began having very bleak thoughts, bordering on suicidal.  A coworker convinced me to see a psychiatrist and a doctor.  With the help of a mild sleep aid and a very mild anti axiety medication, and the chance to discuss the mental and emotional pain I had suffered as a result of my cousin's accident, my sleep patterns improved immensely.  I literally became a different person.  My coworkers and loved ones commented on how much happier and "more like myself" I seemed.  I had always prided myself on my lack of sleep, or lack of need for sleep.  I realized that it's not something to be proud of, regardless of what American culture says.  If you have sleep issues, don't hesitate...see your doctor immediately.  It could save your job, your relationships, perhaps even your life.  Sleep irregularities could be more than just stress, and they need to be recognized as more than just a blip.