Understanding Insomnia

Insomnia is without a doubt the most common of sleep disorders. It affects about one third of the population. People generally describe this condition as "being unable to sleep at night". While this is mainly true, people should understand insomnia is a general symptom with several root causes.

How to determine if you are an insomniac

In order to determine if you are suffering from this disorder, three specific criteria have to be met:

1. the person experiences poor sleep in general, or has a problem falling or staying asleep;
2. the problem still occurs even if given an adequate opportunity to sleep in a good sleeping environment;
3. the result of the poor sleep causes some type of impairment while awake; these impairment may include:
   • fatigue
   • body aches and pains
   • poor concentration
   • mood changes
   • anxiety

Classifications of insomnia

There are two basic classifications--1) by length of time or how long the disorder lasts and 2) by the source of the insomnia.

• By length of time
  • Transient or short-term insomnia - lasts usually for a few days to a few weeks. It is experienced by most people some time throughout their lives. It can be caused by stress brought about by immediate concerns such as a death or illness in the family. Sometimes it also occurs due to a disruption of a person's natural sleep cycle such as by jet lag or a shift change at work. This condition goes away once the cause of stress has passed.
  • Chronic insomnia - this is basically what can be described as a full-blown case with the disorder lasting several months. People who suffer from a serious medical condition or from emotional disorders as well as substance abusers are candidates for this classification.
• By source
  • Primary insomnia - this develops without any of the obvious causes mentioned above. It may start as early as infancy. Some unusual physiological conditions may also trigger it such as high metabolic rates or an overactive nervous system.
  • Secondary insomnia - this is the direct result of another cause. For example if you cannot sleep due to pain from arthritis, then treating and eliminating the pain will restore restful sleep.

Treating insomnia

It is always a good idea to consult a professional in order to obtain an evaluation of your condition. Off hand, most cases are treated with medication like sleeping pills or even tranquilizers. These can be by prescription or bought over the counter.

These days though, there are already several alternative methods of treatment some of which include:

• meditation
• accupuncture
• herbal teas
• traditional Chinese herbs
• muscle relaxation
• deep breathing
• supplements such as melatonin
• aroma therapy

The list goes on and on.

Understanding this sleep disorder is the first step in breaking the cycle of insomnia.