Insomnia is an indication or a warning sign, if you will, of an existing sleeping disorder of internal or external origins and it makes its presence known by imposing constant difficulties falling asleep as well as staying asleep and then it is usually followed by inefficient performance while awake. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, with approximately 65 million Americans suffering from Insomnia, this condition has surpassed epidemic proportions and women fall prey to it 1.4 times as often as men.
If you have ever spent a sleepless night you would know just how annoying it can be. Imagine then having these kinds of nights on a regular basis — the situation then graduates from a mere annoyance to a real problem which can affect just about every aspect of your life; your moods, your mental alertness, your work performance and your energy level.
Three Types of Insomnia
There are difference degrees and severities of Insomnia but three types have been clearly isolated and explicitly defined:
1/ Transient Insomnia. The Transient Insomnia is a temporary condition which may last anywhere from several days to several months and it is caused by physiological or psychological disorders such as pain, depression, stress; or by the timing of sleep. The results are similar to those of sleep deprivation — sleepiness, fatigue and impaired psychomotor performance.
2/ Acute Insomnia. The Acute Insomnia is a condition in which it is impossible to get a good night’s sleep for about three weeks to six months.
3/ Chronic Insomnia. The Chronic Insomnia can last for years. It may be a condition brought on by another disorder or this may be the basic disorder and its effects largely depend on the causes which may be: sleepiness, overall fatigue, hallucinations, mental exhaustion and double vision.
The Various Patterns of Insomnia
Insomnia has been categorized by patterns which are closely linked to causes:
• Onset Insomnia is the trouble falling asleep in the beginning of the night and it is usually coupled with an anxiety disorder.
• Middle of the Night Insomnia is identified by the trouble falling asleep after having woken up in the middle of the night or waking up too early in the morning. It is also frequently referred to as nocturnal awakenings and it is the combination of Middle and Terminal Insomnia.
• Middle Insomnia is characterized by awakening in the middle of the night and being unable to fall asleep again. It is most often connected to a painful disorder or a pathological ailment.
• Terminal Insomnia is typified by awakening too early in the morning and it is associated with clinical depression.
Causes of Insomnia
Insomnia can be caused by a huge list of factors but the most readily identifiable are:
• Psychoactive drugs or stimulants such as various medications, herbs, caffeine and an entire range of recreational drugs.
• Hormonal shifts such as those preceding and during menstruation, menopause, postpartum, perimenopause and postmenopause due to estrogen instability.
• Life problems such as fear, stress, anxiety, anger as well as marital, work and financial problems.
• Mental maladies such as bipolar disorder, clinical depression, general anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia or obsessive compulsive disorder.
• Disturbances of the circadian rhythm such as night shift work or jet lag.
• Some neurological disorders, brain lesions and traumatic brain injuries.
• Medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism and Wilson’s syndrome.
• Poor sleep hygiene such as disruptive noise.
• Parasomnia which includes nightmares, sleepwalking, violent movements during sleep and REM behavior disorder.
• Fatal familial Insomnia is a permanent genetic condition which ultimately leads to death.
• Intestinal parasites which cause disturbances during sleep.
Prevent and Cure of Insomnia
The simplest solution to preventing or curing Insomnia is simply eliminating all its causes. However, that is often easier said than done. Before seeking the medical advice which may ultimately be necessary, it is a good idea to first eliminate as many causes as possible and that, in and of itself, may prove to be a huge relief if not a total one.
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