The Three Types of Insomnia

Are you one of those people who just cant fall asleep until your child returns home from a party at 4 am? Are you up all night worrying about an important meeting at the office the next day? Are you worrying about a dear one hanging between life and death in a hospital? If youre unable to sleep because you are thinking about one of the situations mentioned above, you may have temporary insomnia. This is not a serious disorder and is usually caused by extreme stress or underlying excitement.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which a person experiences poor sleep or has trouble sleeping. Insomnia can involve difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep (that is, waking up many times during the night), without necessarily having had any difficulty falling asleep, waking up too early in the morning or not feeling refreshed after a night's sleep.

Insomnia is not defined by the number of hours of sleep a person gets or how long it takes to fall asleep. Individuals vary normally in their need for, and their satisfaction with, sleep. Not only does insomnia cause daytime drowsiness, irritability, headaches, forgetfulness, body aches and fatigue, it may also impair quality of life in other ways; poor sleepers have been found to receive fewer promotions, have increased rates of absenteeism and demonstrate poor productivity. Also, the risk of motor vehicle crashes is increased in this group because of fatigue.

There are three types of insomnia:

* Transient or mild insomnia consists of sleep difficulties that last for a few days. There is little or no evidence of impairment of functioning during the day.

* Short-term or intermittent insomnia consists of sleep difficulties that last for less than a month. Short-term insomnia mildly affects a person's functioning during the day and causes feelings of irritability and fatigue.

* Chronic or severe insomnia consists of sleep difficulties that last for more than a month. Chronic insomnia can severely impair a person's functioning during the day, and can cause strong feelings of restlessness, irritability, anxiety and fatigue

Transient and intermittent insomnia usually occur in people who are temporarily experiencing stress, environmental noise, extreme temperatures, change in the surrounding environment such as an unfamiliar bedroom or uncomfortable pillows, sleep/wake schedule problems such as those due to jet lag, or medication side effects. These types of sleep disorders can be cured easily. Once the irritant is removed, the person is usually able to return to sleep.

Chronic insomnia is more complex and often results from a combination of factors, including underlying physical or mental disorders. One of the most common causes of chronic insomnia is depression. However, chronic insomnia may also be due to behavioral factors such as the misuse of caffeine, alcohol or other substances, and chronic stress. A person with chronic insomnia will be unable to sleep despite the most comfortable surroundings.

There are some people who, despite not sleeping for six-to-eight hours every night, are able to function normally. Once these people settle into their sleep routines they should learn to use these extra hours to pursue a hobby or finish work ahead of time. This type of insomnia can sometimes be a blessing in disguise.

Most cases of chronic insomnia can be treated with either one or a combination of education, behavioral intervention or medication. Do not allow a sleep disorder to ruin your life. Seek professional help immediately.

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