Insomnia sleep disorder is quite easy to explain.  It basically refers to the inability to either fall asleep or stay asleep.  It's important to note that this isn't a disorder in and of itself though.  Insomnia is basically a symptom of some other kind of sleeping issue.  The worst part about this condition is that it doesn't just affect our sleeping patterns.  The inability to get a quality sleep at night understandably leads to problems during the day as well.  Our work life is affected because we can't concentrate or even keep our eyes open.  Our home and social lives also suffer due to insomnia.  How can we be expected to enjoy time with our loved ones and family if we're constantly tired?

In this article, we'll look at all aspects of insomnia.  The types, causes and treatments will all be discussed.  Before we go any further though, please understand that I'm not a health care professional.  There is a lot of great information available on the Internet.  A few of these sites are actually owned and managed by doctors so you can get some really solid advice.  Do be careful though.  There is a lot of crap on the Internet as well.  As a general rule, I find that online resources should be used as a sort of primer.  There is no substitute for an actual face to face visit with a doctor.

Different Types Of Insomnia Sleep Disorders

Insomnia is a very dynamic problem. There are many different types ranging from light to very serious. Most doctors break the degrees of insomnia into three different categories. The least serious type is known as transient insomnia. This basically refers to sleeping problems that last anywhere from a couple days to about two weeks. One step above this, we find acute insomnia. This is quite a bit more serious than the transient variety discussed above. This problem typically hangs around for weeks or even months. The final, and most serious, type of insomnia is the chronic kind. Chronic insomnia results due to a serious sleeping disorder. It usually last for a year or more and almost always requires some kind of a prescription sleep aid.

There are also three different insomnia patterns that most doctors agree on. A person suffering from a sleeping disorder usually experiences sleep deprivation in one of the following ways. The most common sleep pattern problem is what's known as onset insomnia. This basically means that the patient has difficulty falling asleep. There is also something called middle insomnia. With this sleeping pattern, the patient can get to sleep with ease but almost always wakes up in the middle of the the night. Once awake, most men and women with this problem find it very hard to get back to sleep. The final insomnia pattern is called late insomnia. This is quite similar to the "middle" variety discussed above. The difference being that a patient suffering from late insomnia patterns wakes up in the early morning as opposed to the middle of the night.

Causes Of Insomnia Sleep Disorder

There are so many different factors that can lead to an individual suffering from insomnia. In this article, we'll just touch on the most common ones. We'll also focus on the causes of transient insomnia because this is the type of sleeping disorder that most people suffer from.

One thing that a lot of people struggle with is stress. This can really affect our sleeping habits. If you are constantly worried about money, life or love, chances are you find it hard to get to sleep at night. Some people even wake up thinking about these things and are unable to get back to sleep. Inconsistent sleep habits are another huge factor that can contribute to insomnia. Things like jet lag or shift work often mess up our internal clocks, make it very difficult for us to fall or stay asleep. Another thing can alter our sleep cycles is injury. If you're in pain, it can be quite difficult to get a good sleep. People move in their sleep. If you happen to move in a way that aggravates your injury, you'll probably wake up. Over time, your routine gets thrown off kilter and insomnia sets in.

Some factors that contribute to insomnia are completely beyond our control. Hormones, especially in women, can make sleeping very difficult. Restless Leg Syndrome is also something we can't control. This is basically an unexplainable urge to move the lower body while lying down. It's almost impossible to sleep while moving so insomnia is almost inevitable for folks suffering from this syndrome.

Treatment Of Insomnia Sleep Disorder

Insomnia sleeping disorders can be treated in a variety of different ways. Now, there are plenty of sleep aid medications on the market but these should really be used as a last resort. Look into non prescription sleep aids like sleep hygiene and natural cures for insomnia before going down the pharmaceutical route.

If all else fails though, you may need the assistance of a pill or two. Please read my article on drugs for insomnia for more info. Remember, nothing can replace a sit down consultation with a trusted doctor. Good luck!