Do you struggle to get to sleep no matter how tired you are? Or do you wake up in the middle of the night and lie awake for hours, anxiously watching the clock? If so, you might be experiencing Insomnia.
It is a very common problem that takes a toll on your energy, mood, and ability to function during the day. But you don’t have to resign yourself to sleepless nights. By addressing the underlying causes and making simple changes to your daily habits and sleep environment—you can put a stop to the frustration of insomnia and finally get a good night’s sleep.
In this article ‘The Insomnia Solutions’, we’ll take an in-depth look into insomnia and find the solutions that are right for you.
What Is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. People with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
- Waking up too early in the morning
- Feeling tired upon waking
Types of Insomnia
- Primary insomnia: means that a person is having sleep problems that are not directly associated with any other health condition or problem.
- Secondary insomnia: means that a person is having sleep problems because of something else, such as a health condition (like asthma, depression, arthritis, cancer, or heartburn); pain; medication they are taking; or a substance they are using (like alcohol).
Insomnia According To Duration
It may be characterized based on its duration.So, it can be acute (short-term) or chronic (ongoing).
Acute Insomnia.It is very common. Causes include stress at work, family pressures, or a traumatic event. It usually lasts for days or weeks. Acute insomnia is brief and often happens because of life circumstances.
Causes of Acute Insomnia:
- Significant life stress (job loss or change, death of a loved one, divorce, moving)
- Illness
- Emotional or physical discomfort
- Environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that interfere with sleep
- Some medications (for example those used to treat colds, allergies, depression, high blood pressure, and asthma) may interfere with sleep
- Interference in normal sleep schedule (jet lag or switching from a day to night shift, for example)
Chronic Insomnia. It is a disrupted sleep that occurs at least three nights per week and lasts up to months. Most cases of chronic insomnia are secondary.According to the National Institutes of Health, the majority of chronic insomnia cases are side effects resulting from another primary problem.
Causes of Chronic Insomnia include:
- Depression and/or anxiety
- Chronic stress
- Pain or discomfort at night
Common Symptoms Of Insomnia Include:
- Sleeping for only short periods
- Feeling as if you haven’t slept at all
- Lying awake for a long time before you fall asleep
- Waking up too early
- Being awake for much of the night
The Insomnia Solutions
Some types of insomnia resolve when the underlying cause is treated or wears off. In general, insomnia treatment focuses on determining the cause. Once identified, this underlying cause can be properly treated or corrected. In addition to treating the underlying cause of insomnia, both medical and non-pharmacological (behavioral) treatments may be used as therapies. Non-pharmacological approaches include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in one-on-one counseling sessions or group therapy.
Medical treatments for insomnia include:
- prescription sleeping pills
- antidepressants
- Antihistamines
- sleeping pills such as Ambien, Mogadon, and Restoril which can be purchased online
Related Article: Buy Ambien Online
Risk factors
Insomnia can affect people of any age; it is more common in adult females than adult males. It can undermine school and work performance, as well as contributing to obesity, anxiety, depression, irritability, concentration problems, memory problems, poor immune system function, and reduced reaction time.
Some people are more likely to experience insomnia. These include:
- travelers, particularly through multiple time zones
- shift workers with frequent changes in shifts (day vs. night)
- the elderly
- users of illegal drugs
- adolescent or young adult students
- pregnant women
- menopausal women
- those with mental health disorders
If you think you have insomnia, talk to your doctor about it. You may be evaluated through a physical exam, a medical history, and a sleep history. You may be asked to keep a sleep diary for a week or two, keeping track of your sleep patterns and how you feel during the day.
I do have insomnia tome to time.