What Type of Sleep Order Do You Have

October 31, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Sleepwalking

Today there are a number of different types of sleeping disorders that have been identified. These affect millions of people around the world. Sleeping disorders are considered to be any disorder that happens and is observable in the sleep patterns of a person or animal. There are several ommon types of sleeping disorders. These include hypopnea syndrome, bruxism, jet lag, parasomnias, delayed sleep phase syndrome, insomnia, narcolepsy, night terrors, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, rapid eye movement behavior disorder, shift work sleep disorder, sleep apnea, sleep paralysis, sleepwalking, snoring as well as many other numerous sleeping problems.

It may surprise you to learn that one of the most common types of sleeping disorders is that of sleepwalking. Sleepwalking is a sleeping disorder in which the person undertakes activities while in a sleeplike state or still asleep. This type of sleeping disorder can affect people of all ages, and includes such activities as eating, dressing, and even driving cars have all been reported of occurring while a person was in a sleepwalking state.

Another type of sleeping disorders thais quite common is that of parasomnias. Parasomnias include any type of sleep disorder such as night terrors, rhythmic movement disorder, restless leg syndrome, sleep sex, teeth grinding, REM behavior disorder, and somniloquy. Stress or depression are often associated with these types of sleeping disorders. Those that are included in the parasomnia category are considered as being acute, undesirable, and episodic physical phenomena that are exaggerated by sleep or occur during sleep.

Sleep apnea is another sleeping disorder. It is characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. Usually there are two basic forms of sleep apnea. One is central and the other is obstructive. The central form of sleep apnea occurs when breathing is interrupted by the lack of effort. The obstructive form of sleep apnea occurs when there is an actual physical blockage to the airflow.

Because of our fast paced world jet lag is an incredibly frequent and commonly reported sleeping disorder that is a condition that is a basic consequence of alterations to the circadian rhythm. In other words, when traveling across a number of time zones, the human body immediately gets out of sync with the destination time. This causes one to experience daytime and nighttime contrary to the rhythms that one has grown accustomed to. When this happens you might feel like having breakfast immediately upon arriving in Rome at midnight. Jet lag occurs most often for those people who spend a lot of time traveling, especially in airplanes or jet planes.

Tips for Happier Dreams and Preventing Nightmares

October 31, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Night Terrors




You don’t want to live through a horror story in your dreams, not even if it has a happy ending, unless you’re Stephen King. Since he’s a horror writer, I’ve joked about him relishing nightmares, looking forward to them as he smiles on his pillow, eagerly awaiting new material for his novels.

If you want to learn how to be happier while you’re asleep, I’ll share tips that help me sleep better, awake to have more joyful days, and prevent nightmares for years. Friends and strangers have thanked me for the advice.

This leads me to write this article and add the tips in my upcoming novel “Among Whom You Shine,” a tough yet inspiring story of a family and the nation coming of age regarding tolerance in the 1970s. Besides, according to studies, poor sleep can cause stress, fatigue, and heart problems, and at AIR Equation.org we’re about healthy happiness.

1. GO TO SLEEP IN A BETTER MOOD

* Do something that relaxes you and makes you happy before bedtime. Read a nice book. Take a soothing bath. Play a relaxing CD like one with natural sounds. Use aromatherapy such as scented candles, particularly ones with lavender–an essential oil that promotes sleep.

* Avoid debates and things that create a negative mood. If you use the AIR Equation, this shouldn’t be a problem for the most part. Offer people acceptance, inspiration, and respect before you go to bed. Fear, anger, sadness and similar moods are not good to take with you to la-la land.

Despite the negatives that happen during the day, my wife tries to mellow out and be more courteous as bedtime nears. She even waves to me and the children as she heads to bed, forgiving us for whatever we did that upset her earlier. Ah, the old marriage motivational of not going to sleep angry. She’ll often end the evening watching an inspirational show that fills her with positive thoughts.

* Avoid unpleasant subjects. Tune out negative news, talk, and reality shows on TV. If you’re a big sports fan and your favorite team just lost, don’t stay up to watch highlights you know will end badly. Turn off that midnight horror movie (sorry Stephen King).

Don’t worry about things that make you depressed before you sleep. Be as happy as possible. Hey, visit us.

2. WATCH YOUR EATING

* Eat healthier. Chips, ice cream, pizza, or anything loaded with salt, fat, sugar, or caffeine aren’t good late at night or anytime, including when you’re hungry. Your body’s hunger is triggered more by lack of nutrients than lack of food. That’s why you can be hungry again soon after eating a whole bag of chips–they lack sufficient nutrients.

Eat fruits, vegetables, and grains that are nutritious. Lean toward lighter instead of heavier foods.

* Refrain from food within an hour before sleep. This gives your body time to digest the food efficiently and effectively while it’s revved up to do so. During sleep, almost everything in the body slows down so don’t give it a tough job that’ll also take away your dream management.

3. DON’T OVERHEAT YOURSELF

This is one many don’t realize. I’m working to increase awareness of it. Meir Kryger, MD, chairman of The National Sleep Foundation, has reported research on this and wrote the book, “A Woman’s Guide to Sleep Disorders” (though he’s a man and much of the information applies to men as well). He states heat hampers your sleep and ability to dream.

* Take the extra blankets and comforters off of your bed. The times I recall having nightmares, especially ones that woke me up in the middle of the night, I was sweating or just felt hot. My nightmares ceased when I started to sleep with only enough covers to keep me warm but not hot.

* Take off the extra clothes and people. Try sleeping with as little clothing as possible. People and pets generate heat, so monitor sleeping too close to them (without damaging your relationship). Do what fits your comfort level.

* Put on something cool. Ice packs and cold wet rags on the head are examples.

* Lower the room temperature. Since you’ll be under the covers, you can lower the heater setting and save on your fuel bill too. Turn on a fan or open a window if climate permits.

* Change to a cooler room. If you sleep upstairs, which is plagued by the fact hot air rises, go downstairs where it’s cooler.

Share these happy dream tips with friends and strangers too. Invite them over here for more, courtesy of http://www.AIRequation.org, helping to spread happiness. If Stephen King reads this and starts sleeping under piles of comforters, I want a cut of his next novel.



Should there be a link between spirituality and psychiatry?

October 31, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Night Terrors

The spirit can abide without modern psychiatry, but psychiatry cannot abide without the spirit. It is the essence of the combined human spirit that begs we find, create and discover ways to understand the spirit and soul. Thus, psychiatry. Which, by todays standards is just a revised edition of old, ancient and wise teachings already established, save Freud of course. lol

Christ was the first psychiatrist that we have proof of, it amazes me how the teachings of the bible are over looked or discounted as outdated when in fact if held next to the most recent medical text or news flash would mimic if not explain. Lots wife (lot was a wealthy faithful man of the bible and had to move from his place in a hurry, if you don’t know the story you should read it) turned in to a pillar of salt when she looked back on her home, Sodom and Gomorrah, how much more Freudian can one get? She was morning her past and staying in it, solidifying and becoming bitter, duh…..”pillar of salt”? She cried argued and even fought the move, to no avail, accept the symbolic example of immobile, bitter pain that she chose to be, abiding in her own personal hell and denying a reality that was right in front of her had she just kept faith. Hm, did she lose her spirit?

Three of the greatest and strongest men of the bible, Job, Solomon and David all wrote about their excruciating depression and anxiety, explaining the side effect of each one. From bowel movements to night terrors and visions. Were they schizophrenic? No, they were suffering the same ailments and disorders we find today.

Christ came across a man on a mat who was dumb and blind and poor and sick, an out cast. He asked the man “do you want to be healed”?. Well, any one of us would say “yes, of course” and later wonder why Jesus asked such a dumb question, but if you go to your local shrink today, he will ask the same thing, “do you really want the help”? Pertaining to addiction we find the same enigma, an addict will not stop until he really wants to stop. Until he has chosen and wants to be free.

For many of us our answer, if we were honest, might have been “no, Jesus, I don’t, I am having a pity party right now, I’m on meds,on my mat and people pay attention to me, bring me food,and allow me to self loathe so.. go away!”.

When Jesus came across the accused prostitute that was going to be stoned to death by the great and wonderful (yea right) religious men of the day, he stopped, stooped down to

Diagnoses Of Sleep Disorder

October 31, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Sleepwalking




A sleep disorder is one of the most common problems to go undiagnosed. This is why it is so important to try and raise awareness about sleep disorders so that more people can learn to diagnose the problem before it is too late. Obtaining the exact medical data on a patient is an essential part of detecting certain sleep disorders, especially in cases involving Neurological disorders. People having difficulty sleeping must be aware of all the little details of their sleeping habits. They should keep a daily diary and take down their sleeping activities so as to be capable of accurately reporting everything to the doctor. A summary of the times that they attempted to sleep, as well as the times they achieved a successful sleep, will be very helpful for a doctor to see. They should also be able to report on the cases of snoring that their spouse or family member may have noticed. Their use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs should also be reported to the doctor. All of these things will help a doctor to make an accurate diagnosis.

An especially important method of diagnosis for a sleep disorder is the use of Polysomnography. This is a method that uses electroencophalography (EEG) to monitor activities of the muscles and the brain. It also monitors the heart’s rhythmic activities and the patterns of breathing while asleep. Patients with a potential disorder are tested inside the sleep lab and are also allowed to take a piece of portable equipment to their home for further use. The device monitors the different stages of sleep which the clinician then interprets. The information gained may give clues into the type and probable cause of a sleep disorder.

Other available tests that are often used to diagnose a sleep disorder include Overnight Oximetry which measures the saturation of oxygen found in the blood. This is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) patients to determine the oxygen level during the apnea episodes. Difficulty in breathing with occasional noise is a common sign of both snoring and sleep apnea. With people with Narcolepsy, MSLT or Multiple Sleep Latency Tests can de done to measure the number of times the patient was able to fall fast asleep and how frequently they experienced REM sleep.

Sleep is like the “inner food” that feeds our tired and exhausted bodies after a hard days work. Having a full uninterrupted night of sleep requires a lot of factors, all of which must be examined when considering a diagnosis. These factors may range from how we choose the best position to fit us to the room where we will enjoy our sleep. They may also include the pillow we will be using and how tired and motivated we are to sleep each night.

Difficulty in sleeping occurs in all of us. Whether young, old, working or a student; it doesn’t matter. Having this difficulty may be alarming for many of us but it doesn’t have to be as long as we are informed. All of the things mentioned as well as many others could be signs of a sleep disorder. This is why it is so important to seek a doctors’ help. We must be aware and well informed of the possibilities of having this kind of ailment and try to get the most informed diagnosis that we can. This requires our own participation and not just the doctor’s!

Common sleep ailments such as Insomnia, Narcolepsy or Sleep apnea can all be diagnosed accurately as long as there is proper information given to a doctor. Other sleep disorders such as bedwetting, sleep talking, sleep walking and night terrors can also be diagnosed and treated with various medications or natural treatments. The most important thing is to increase your awareness about your sleep habits so that you can properly report them to a doctor.

You don’t need to worry so much! Just like they say in that old phrase; ” For every problem, there’s always a solution”, sleep disorders can always be treated either through a natural, more traditional way or through a modern treatment prescribed by a doctor. With all these options to help you determine the cause and nature of your disorder, it is amazing that sleep disorders still go undiagnosed in many cases. Raising your own awareness will be the first step in preventing this problem and finding new ways to prevent and treat such disorders. Now it will be possible for you and your loved ones to experience a good night sleep as often as you want, with no hassle



Will sleeping apart keep you together

October 31, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Night Terrors

Simple fact: Apart and together are opposites. If you sleep apart, you are not together.

Couples sleep apart for different reasons, some of them for health or emotional well-being. However, I do not believe this is a healthy option in general. I believe it is a rare situation which will make sleeping apart improve your relationship. That said,

there are no hard and fast rules.

In my experience, a lot of problems precede the decision to sleep apart. Generally, relationship issues have been seething for months or years, unresolved. The reason or

excuse for sleeping apart usually sounds good.

1.) Snoring. He/she snores so loud that I can’t sleep! This one is tough. It is also valid. But, there are many things which can be done. Most people say they have tried everything – which means that the spray or nose strip didn’t work. Sleep apnea can be cured safely, inexpensively, and quickly. Even a deviated septum can be repaired or treated successfully.

Even without this, medications, as well as losing weight can fix the problem. If you care about your mate’s physical and mental health, you will make EVERY effort to fix this problem. Sleep deprivation can seriously damage a person’s quality of life. Don’t put your mate through that because you are insensitive or thoughtless.

2.) Bed Hogging. Not to sound mean – but here again – the hog needs to be more thoughtful, considerate, and generous. Bed hogging is basically selfishness. If it is severe enough for your mate to consider separate sleeping arrangements, you need to realize the error of your ways and fix it – ASAP!

3.) Combative Nightmares. As a sufferer from these violent, and very frequent night terrors, I can say that sleeping apart may seem like the best thing. But it is the very

worst thing you can do. Someone who suffers from this condition really needs their

partner’s help. This is a serious condition that affects the sufferer emotionally,

mentally, and physically. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve awakened screaming,

crying, digging my nails into my hands or face, jerking uncontrollably, and biting

my tongue or jaw.

The warmth and gentle words of a partner can soothe away these terrors before they get this bad. In this case, you need to be a understanding and selfless. Perhaps your partner could seek treatment for this if it is mutually agreed upon. A note of caution, however. Don’t think that sedatives or alcohol will solve this

Insomnia Is More Than Just Than Not Being Able To Get To Sleep

October 31, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Insomnia

If you have ever suffered from Insomnia like I have, then you will know that it can be much more than just not being able to fall asleep quickly, or not being tired at bedtime. Insomnia has the power to take over your whole life if you allow it to. While it may not seem like you do have a choice in the matter, there are things you can do to decrease its hold on you and take away its power. The question is are you going to let it ruin your life? This article will take a look at what Insomnia is, who it affects, and of course just what can you do about it.

Insomnia can be categorized in many different ways, usually depending on how severe the symptoms, but just what is Insomnia really. Insomniacs, or people suffering from insomnia, typically complain of not being able to close their eyes or even rest their minds for more than a few moments at a time. Insomnia means difficulty in falling or staying asleep, the absence of restful sleep, or poor quality of sleep. It also described as an inability to sleep and/or inability to remain asleep for a reasonable period. Insomnia can affect not only your energy level and your mood, but it generally has quite a large impact on your overall health as well because sleep is one of the keys to keeping your immune system strong.

Insomnia can range from mild to quite severe depending on how often it occurs and also for how long. Many different things including poor eating and sleeping habits, poor lifestyle choices and even depression can cause it. These seem to be the most obvious causes, however there can be much more subtle factors at play, such as physical injury or even an under-active thyroid. Insomnia is generally considered to be chronic if it occurs on most nights and lasts a month or more. Professionals do not normally define it by the number of hours of sleep a person gets or how long it takes to fall asleep. Insomnia is clearly nothing new and countless numbers of people have faced it, and dealt with it, over hundreds of years. Insomnia is a common problem that affects almost everyone at some point, in one way or another.

Insomnia isn’t just felt by one age group, it is common in all ages from the very young right through to the elderly. Almost all adults will agree that they have experienced symptoms of sleeplessness at one point and this could have even been insomnia. Most professionals seem to agree that women are more likely to be affected than mean, and quite often after menopause.

Thinking about the treatment of Insomnia, really comes back to the root cause of it in the first place. The hard part is that this cause is not always obvious or even known at all. Insomniacs can tend to worry about not getting enough sleep and about what may happen to their health as a consequence. It really can become a catch-22 situation because without the worrying, often the symptoms are not there at all. Just like depression though, it is not just a matter of thinking positive and everything will be ok. While I do believe that a positive mindset certainly does help maintain a healthy mind and body as a result, it is not just like turning a light switch on. It can be caused by excessive or regular daytime naps, and possibly by excessive consumption of caffeine so if you this is you and you do suffer from Insomnia, you may not have seen the connection before.

While we have said that the cause is usually the first thing treated. Sometimes it is impossible to know what that is, and especially if it not emotional or mental. Sleeping tablets are often prescribed and while they do work they can never be more than a short term solution. Natural, safe treatments are available and can be very effective in treating the cause and the symptoms. One such all natural supplement is something called Thyromine, which works by correcting an under-active thyroid which is often the cause.

Sleep Disorders and the Problems They Bring

October 30, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Treatments

Did you know that snoring contributes a lot in divorce of partners? I am not trying to crack a joke in here. Most couples may not be aware of it consciously, but the relation of snoring and divorce is higher than expected. Of course, the main reason that one states in a court room is not snoring but other major problems. Studies prove that 50% of the population in United States snore, and that snoring problem between two people is acknowledged to lead to several problems in the relationship. Individuals who are in a relationship can testify to this one.

There are a lot of types of treatment for sleep eating sufferers just like any other sleep-related disorders. The first thing to do is to have the right diagnosis or interpretation on his/her symptoms. Usually, a doctor will recommend you to visit in a sleep center. The place has a laboratory where a series of tests for the sleep eater will be conducted.

In the sleep test, it is important that other diseases or health medical conditions will be identified so that we will know if it has something to do with the signs of sleep eating disorder. Some of these conditions include sleep apnea, low blood sugar, hepatitis or encephalitis.

People who are suffering from a sleep eating disorder will soon encounter some health risk that includes:

Poor Quality of Sleep – the sufferers tend to sleep in unusual hours and in limited time.

Gaining weight – because of too much intake of sweets and fats, most of the sufferers lead to obesity.

Anxiety Attacks – Due to stress and anger. Usually occurs in daytime.

Injuries – They acquire it by preparing their food while sleeping

If you are encountering the following, I suggest that you go to the nearest hospital and have a medical check-up with a good doctor. It is better that you work on your sleeping problems before it’s too late.

Do you know someone who is suffering from a sleep eating disorder? It is the type of disorder wherein the patient eats at night without him knowing it. They unconsciously prepare their meals while they are sleeping. This is actually a dangerous condition. It is known scientifically as the Nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder (NSRED).

The dangerous thing about this condition is that the sufferers are not really aware on what they are doing at night. When they later on find clues that they did such thing, they start to feel guilty and ashamed of themselves, which later on leads to depression.

It was found out that most of the sufferers are those who are addicted in food that has a lot of sugar and fat contents. Sometimes, they unconsciously eat inedible stuff and the also combine strange foods.

Anyone can cure sleeping disorders by taking medical drugs and by following medical procedures, but did you know that the most important cure actually starts in your dear home? Specifically, in the bedroom. If you observed that your child is suffering from a sleeping disorder, the first thing to do is go to a doctor and undergo a medical check-up. Next, go to the room and ask yourself “What should I do in this room to make my dear child sleep comfortably?” The first thing to check is the bed, really. The beddings and the pillows contribute a lot in a child’s sleeping habits.

What is Insomnia and What are It’s Main Causes?

October 30, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Insomnia

What is insomnia?

Insomnia is the inability to get high-quality sleep. It can last a day or two, a month, or even months on end. Because different individuals need different amounts of sleep, insomnia is not defined by the number of hours you sleep or by how quickly you fall asleep. Instead, it depends on the quality of your sleep, and how you feel after sleeping. Even if you are sleeping eight hours a night, if you’re still feeling drowsy and fatigued during the day, you may be experiencing insomnia.

Insomnia may be classified by how long the symptoms are present.

Transient insomnia usually is due to situational changes such as travel, extreme climate changes, and stressful events.

Short-term insomnia usually is due to ongoing stressful events, medication side effects, medical conditions, and lasts for one to three weeks

Chronic insomnia (long-term insomnia) often results from depression or substance abuse and continues for more than three weeks.

Insomnia affects all age groups. Among older adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence increases with age.

Insomnia is also a problem that is prevalent among people with HIV/AIDS.

What are the main causes of insomnia?

psychological health problems such as stress or anxiety

physical health problems such as asthma or pain

medicines like those taken for asthma, vertigo and depression

jet lag (for more information see Related topics)

A number of other diseases and conditions can cause secondary insomnia

environmental factors such as noise, an uncomfortable bed or being too hot or cold

lifestyle habits, eg eating late at night, drinking alcohol or using stimulants such as nicotine

Exposure to stress may contribute to the development or worsening of insomnia. Relationship problems, a chronically ill child, or an unrewarding career may contribute to sleep problems. If you suffer from these types of stresses, you should seek counseling to gain a new outlook on your troubles and more control in your life.

People who work alternating shifts may develop insomnia because of a continually fluctuating sleep-wake schedule. For example, if a person works five nights a week and then works a day schedule for the next days, insomnia may result from changes in circadian rhythm.

Caffeine most commonly disrupts sleep. While a drink or two before bed may help a person relax, more than that can lead to fragmented sleep and wakefulness a few hours later.

The levels of melatonin, the hormone that helps control sleep, decrease as a person ages. By age 60, the body produces very little melatonin.

Long-term use of sleep medications. If you need sleep medications for longer than several weeks, talk with your doctor, preferably one who specializes in sleep medicine.

Stimulants. Prescription drugs, including some antidepressants, high blood pressure and corticosteroid medications, can interfere with sleep.

Heavy, spicy, or high-sugar foods eaten at night can cause indigestion strong enough to wake you.

Depression and sleep problems are closely linked: insomnia can be an early sign of depression.

How to Stop Insomnia Once and for All

October 30, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Insomnia

You can stop insomnia once and for all with the help of hypnosis. This process provides the relaxing support necessary so you can quit having restless nights and sleeplessness. Your anti-insomniac approach does not have to include sleeping pills in order to be successful.

Natural Cure for Insomnia

Self-hypnosis is an approach that is purely natural that can help stop insomnia. You do not have to worry about taking potentially addictive sleep medications in order to have a good night’s sleep. You can have a refreshing, restful sleep without drugs or their side effects. There are many benefits to taking a natural approach to cure insomnia.

Sleeping pills can be habit forming and they do not treat the underlying problem that feed your insomnia. You may be creating more problems by adopting medications into your nighttime routine because you run the risk of suffering from significant side effects and health problems associated with dependency to sleep meds.

Insomnia Self Help

Part of your self-help approach should include a visit to your physician to determine if there are any underlying medical conditions feeding into your sleeplessness. In some cases, restlessness and the inability to sleep may be connected to a treatable illness. You can use hypnosis to augment any treatment prescribed by your physician to stop insomnia.

When you seek help from different resources, you are more apt to achieve success and your success is determined in part by your own participation in your recovery from your insomniac tendencies. You can use your mind to overcome your sleeplessness.

Sleepless Thinking

Your thought processes are partly to blame for your condition. Restlessness can be a result of poor nightly habits or the lack of a consistent routine. Developing a consistent routine for bedtime is very difficult if you are used to chaotic nighttime conditions. Self-hypnosis helps you follow suggestions that guide you to a dependable routine that is conducive to relaxation and sound sleep.

In addition to routine, your sleepless condition may be partically blamed on your thoughts and emotion. Your thinking patterns may focus on your inability to fall asleep and these thoughts create feelings of anxiousness and frustration. As the night moves on, you become more and more upset about being unable to fall asleep. This can make sleep impossible.

Finding A Hypnosis CD

The first step is to look for a self-hypnosis CD that can offer the relief that you need. Following are some quick ideas to help you get started on your search. It is likely that you won’t have to look very far in order to find a recording that suits your needs.

You can get help for your sleeplessness through a self-hypnosis recording like the one found here – Stop Insomnia. The late Duncan McColl is considered one of the greatest hypnotherapists and his recordings have helped many people.

You can also find relief with Tina Taylor’s recording “The Art Of Sleeping Restfully” found here – Cure for Insomnia. Other helpful recordings are available here – Insomina Self Help. Just click on the links for more information.

Insomnia Basics

October 30, 2009 by insomniac  
Filed under Insomnia

In laymens terms, Insomnia is a medical condition characterized by the patient’s inability to sleep or rest his/her mind for a reasonable time. The common symptoms include trouble falling asleep, waking up frequently at night and finding it difficult to go back to sleep again, waking up very early before dawn, or feeling non-refreshed even after an apparent 7-8 hrs sleep at night. The direct outcome of this condition is that the patients,during the day, will appear sleepy and fatigued, may have troubles concentrating or thinking clearly, and very often, behaves depressed and irritable. However, thanks to the developments happened in the medical domain, insomnia is completely curable now, the only important aspect being to diagnose the exact cause of insomnia with precision.

Types of Insomnia

Insomnia is classified into three types – Transient, Acute (Short-Term) and Chronic. Transient Insomnia lasts from a single night to few weeks and after that everything will be normal. Sleeplessness caused due to a short term anxiety or jet-lag can be grouped under transient insomnia. If such sleeplessness occurs again and again, then that condition is referred to as intermittent.

Acute Insomnia lasts from three weeks to six months, but the patient experiences no symptoms or episodes after that. If sleeplessness occurs for at least three nights a week and the pattern continues to over a month or more, then it is considered to be Chronic Insomnia. It is the most severe form of insomnia one can get.

Causes

Insomnia can be primary or secondary. Primary insomnia is caused naturally and is in no way related to any health issue or disease. Secondary insomnia is the result of some medical condition – such as asthma, cancer, arthritis – fear, stress, anxiety, medications, or a poor sleeping environment in one’s bedroom (partner snoring or any other irritating sound or noise constantly disturbing the sleep).

Some other causes of insomnia include sleep apnea, parasomnia, mania, hypomania, gastroesophageal reflux disease etc. It can also be a symptom of an approaching depression or hyper-thyroidsm.

Treatments

As mentioned earlier, insomnia may be the result of a variety of factors. Hence its treatment also includes diagnosing the exact cause of sleeplessness, and addressing the issue precisely. For example, if insomnia is caused due to some underlying mental illnesses, it must be cured before the patient could again able to sleep peacefully. In some cases, doctors may prescribe sleeping pills to bring back the sleep, but such a methodology is not advisable for longer periods. Relaxation therapy, meditation, acupuncture, aromatherapy, reconditioning, and sleep restriction techniques are also invariably suggested for insomnia, but its effectiveness may vary from person to person.

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