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Insomnia

© James Foster Robinson

If you are like me, you have, at some time or other, not been able to get to sleep, woke up during the night and then could not fall back asleep or woke up early in the morning feeling rotten. You know you did not get enough quality shuteye! Well, you just might be suffering from Insomnia!

Think that you are too young to get Insomnia? You are wrong! Males and females of all ages can be insomniacs. Studies have suggested, however, that it is more common in females especially after menopause. The elderly are also more like to experience it as their ability to sleep restfully declines with age.

Sleep experts have identified three basic types of Insomnia: Transient (short term), Intermittent (on and off), and Chronic (constant). If your insomnia lasts from one night to a few weeks, it is considered to be Transient. If your episodes of insomnia only occur from time to time or on again/off again, then it is classified Intermittent. Insomnia that occurs almost every night and lasts more than thirty days is Chronic Insomnia.

Untreated, any of the three kinds can cause tiredness, a lack of get up and go, irritability and difficulty paying attention. What's that! You were not listening? Did you not get enough sleep last night?

Insomnia is caused by a number of conditions and is more likely to be experienced by people over sixty years old, or female or having a history of depression. Anxiety, stress, using certain medications or have a preexisting medical problem can lead to Insomnia. Transient and intermittent insomnia can be caused by noise, extreme temperatures, unfamiliar sleep arrangements, working night shift or changing hours, jet lag and side effects of medication. Chronic Insomnia is far more complex than transient and intermittent insomnia resulting from a number of physical and/or mental factors. The most common is depression but causes can include arthritis, asthma, heart failure, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, narcolepsy, Parkinson's disease, restless legs syndrome, and sleep apnea. Behavioral factors such as alcohol, caffeine, interruption to sleep and wake cycles due to shift work, jet lag, etc, abuse and misuse of various substance and last but not least chronic stress.

To make matters worse, some people can experience Insomnia just by expecting and worrying about getting to sleep. Then they also drink too much coffee, down a few pints or smoke some cigarettes just before trying to go to sleep. How many times have you heard someone say that they need a drink or too so they can go to sleep. Experts say that alcohol will put you to sleep but not in a peaceful or restful way. How about a long nap in the afternoon? You may find it very difficult to fall asleep at night if you have snoozed earlier in the day. Finally, those of you, who keep irregular hours, are sure to disrupt your sleep patterns and have difficulty getting to sleep.