Insomnia Disorders

Posted by admin in Prescription Sleep Medicine, Sleep Disorder on April 21st, 2009

Insomnia disorders are symptoms that many of us will experience at some point in our lives. It is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or having a poor quality of sleep. Insomnia is typically classified into three main categories: transient insomnia, short-term insomnia and chronic insomnia. All three categories can lead to mental health issues such as poor concentration and mental focus, memory problems and increased feelings of stress and anxiety.

Transient insomnia describes insomniac episodes that are of a short duration–usually under one week. A person experiencing transient insomnia is typically undergoing some sort of situational change. This can include things like effects of travel across time zones or if the person is experiencing a stressful event, which is a common cause of sleep difficulties. It helps to identify what stress-reduction skills work best for you when emotional stress increases. Having a set of skills you can use to combat stress can lead to shorter periods of interrupted sleep patterns.

Short-term insomnia disorders describes episodes that last one to three weeks. These episodes are often caused by more intense or longer-term stressful events, medication side effects or other medical conditions. It is important that you work with your physician to try to resolve any underlying medical reasons for your sleep interruption. If left untreated, it can lead to chronic insomnia.

Chronic insomnia disorders are characterized by an extended period of time of interrupted sleep. Some more common causes of chronic insomnia are depression or substance abuse. A person should be assessed for depression if they are experiencing chronic insomnia. Treating the symptoms of depression can help alleviate insomnia and lead to improved brain function, better concentration and overall improved mental health. Emotional stress is also alleviated if adequate sleep can be attained.

If you’re experiencing sleepless nights, keep in mind that insomnia is a symptom of another condition. By finding the root cause of your insomnia disorders, you’ll increase your success at overcoming it.

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