Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the most commonly complained about topics.

 We have all heard it. “Gee, I had a lousy night’s sleep last night.” “I just couldn’t get to sleep” or “I kept waking up all night”.

 Who hasn’t had this problem for one reason or another? But is it really Insomnia or the fact that we stayed up to late, had to work the next day and were worried the alarm wouldn’t go off in time. I know I’ve done that many times - spent more time watching the clock than sleeping.

 Almost everyone will be affected by Insomnia at some point during life. Insomnia is a short term or chronic failure to get high quality sleep. It can be caused by a variety of things including

•  stress, 
• a change in time zones, like when we travel overseas or across the country,   
• a changed sleep schedule, or   
• poor bedtime practices.   

 Whether your problem is an irregular sleepless night or a series of them, plenty of solutions are available to help you get better night’s sleep.

 Insomnia is not defined by the quantity of hours of sleep a person gets or how long it takes to fall asleep. Individuals fluctuate normally in their need for sleep, and their fulfillment with sleep. Insomnia may cause troubles during the day, such as

•  fatigue, 
• a lack of vigor,   
• difficulty focusing, and   
• bad temper.   

 Types of Insomnia.

 Insomnia can be classified as transient (short term), intermittent (on

and off), and chronic (constant).

Insomnia lasting from a solitary night to a few weeks is referred to as transient. If episodes of transient Insomnia occur from time to time, the Insomnia is said to be intermittent. Insomnia is considered to be chronic if it occurs on most nights and lasts a month or more.

Something to be mindful of is that Insomnia often acts as a flashing yellow light in terms of sleep problems. Your Insomnia symptoms might be of a more major sleep problem or disorder, or a starting point for dealing with a physical, mental or emotional challenge. Your failure to go to sleep or stay asleep might be connected to

• your partner’s snoring, 
• your own sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome,   
• a pressing situation at work, or   
• a tricky family issue.   

 What to do about Insomnia.

 Whatever the reason of your Insomnia, being careful of your sleep habits and learning to calm down will help your sleep improve and for you to feel healthier.

The best information that can be given is that Insomnia doesn’t have to be a permanent problem. In lots of situations, self help techniques, addressing sleep hygiene, relaxation and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can lessen the impact Insomnia has on the individual and promote improved health as well as enhanced sleep patterns.

Medication should be a last option for Insomnia. 

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