Understanding Insomnia - Why Is It Difficult to Fall Asleep and to Stay Asleep

If you answered yes to this question, then it's likely that you could be suffering from insomnia.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is the state of being awake and the inability to fall asleep at night.

Some of its symptoms are:

Feeling sleepy in the daytime

You feel sleepy in the daytime as you've been up all night because you couldn't get to sleep. This could affect your work, your performance in school, how you relate with others, and your personal life.

Irritability

You easily get irritated or agitated with someone or something. You tend to be rude to the people around you.

Anxiety

Medical references say that anxiety your body's natural response to stress.

Difficulty going to sleep

Waking up from sleep in the evening and having trouble going back to sleep again

Several factors may contribute to the symptoms of insomnia:

Predisposing factors

Examples of predisposing factors is when some people feel sleepy after drinking coffee after dinner while some have no problem falling asleep even if they have downed several cups of coffee.

Another example of predisposing factor is the lack of a strong desire to achieve a balanced sleep.

Precipitating factors

Examples of precipitating factors that contribute to sleeplessness is preparing for an exam, marital problems and work-related issues. A noisy environment and a very brightly-lit room can also trigger insomnia.

Perpetuating factors

Perpetuating causes of insomnia are changes in behavior and mental ability that happen when a person falls asleep continuously for sometime.

These changes in behavior include:

1. pursuing an irregular pattern of waking and sleeping

2. staying in bed longer trying to get more sleep

3. sleeping in the daytime

4. being active at night.

Insomnia is a type of sleep disorder wherein a person cannot go to sleep or cannot stay asleep as much as he wants to.

Primary and Secondary Insomnia

Medical experts use two categories, primary and secondary insomnia, to properly identify the causes of insomnia.

Primary insomnia is sleep disorder that is not associated with another medical, psychiatric or environmental factors. Depression and anxiety are two examples of primary disorders

Secondary insomnia is sleep disorder that is secondary to another primary disorder. Making this classification is very important for health experts in order that they can put their efforts in treating the primary disorder that's causing insomnia rather than merely treating the symptoms.

3 TYPES OF INSOMNIA THAT COMMONLY AFFECT PEOPLE

Chronic insomnia is the type of insomnia where the episodes of sleeplessness last more than a month. It can occur as a primary disorder or it can be due to another disease.

Chronic insomnia is what a larger portion of the population suffers from. Because of this statistics, it is recommended that chronic insomnia be distinctly identified from acute or transient insomnia so that proper treatment and management can be applied.

Chronic insomnia is believed to cause double vision.

Acute insomnia occurs when the episodes of sleeplessness last less than a period of one month. This type is also known as stress-related sleep disorder or short-term insomnia.

With transient insomnia, the duration of sleeplessness lasts less than a week. It could be caused by extremes tress, deep depression, the uncomfortable conditions in the sleeping environment, and the time a person goes to sleep.

Doctors do not recommend the long-term use of prescription pills to treat insomnia.

Studies have been made to find the best way to treat insomnia aimed to better understand the causes and treatment of insomnia. The study suggest that treatment of insomnia should be based on the following factors:

1. The underlying disease should be properly treated

2. The present psychiatric illness should be properly treated

3. Individuals who hurt themselves and others should be referred to experts

4. Limit the use of hypnotic drugs to treat transient insomnia

5. Recognize the use of nonpharmaceutical treatment of insomnia

Psychological and behavioral approach

Stimulation Control Therapy

This therapy is a set of 5 instructions for the insomnia sufferer aimed to make a connection between the bedroom and sleep and to make a consistent schedule of waking and sleeping. The instructions are:

• Go to bed only when you feel sleepy

• Get out of bed when you are not able to go to sleep yet

• Do not use the bedroom for reading or watching TV, use it only for sleeping.

• Wake up at the same time early in the morning

• Do not take short naps.

Sleep Restriction Therapy

This technique is to shorten or cut down the amount of time you spend in bed and the amount you actually spend sleeping. If a patient spends 6 hours in bed and spends only 5 hours sleeping, then the person should be trained to sleep within the 5 hour time limit.

Relaxation Training

This is a technique done in the clinic which is intended to reduce somatic tension and reduce disturbing thoughts that interrupts with a good night's sleep.

To reduce somatic tension, training on progressive muscle relaxation and autogenic training should be implemented.

To avoid disturbing thoughts before bedtime, imagery training and meditation are recommended.

Cognitive Therapy

This technique is intended to change the negative perception about sleep and insomnia and its consequences. Other cognitive techniques can include paradoxical methods intended to prevent too much worrying about having insomnia and what could happen in the future.

Sleep Hygiene Education

Cognitive Behavior Therapy