Insomnia is a sleep disorder that prevents a person from getting adequate sleep. More specifically, there are many types of insomnia that can cause trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and feeling rested, for any amount of time. As a result, irregular sleeping habits will cause a person to have trouble functioning while awake as well. Insomnia is a very common sleeping disorder among adults, children and seniors. It is estimated that about 4 out of 10 adults are affected by troublesome sleeping patterns.
People can experience insomnia effects during any stage of a normal sleep cycle. One can have difficulty falling asleep at night, possibly due to stress or anxiety disorders. Those suffering from other medical conditions may experience insomnia that causes them to wake in the middle of the night several times, and then have trouble going back to sleep. Finally, one can find themselves waking up much earlier than they would normally want – this condition is often linked to clinical depression.
Insomnia can also be characterized by the length of time of the disorder. Transient insomnia will last for less than one week. It is usually caused by temporary stress factors, such as jet lag or a change in sleeping schedules. Short term insomnia lasts anywhere from one week to four weeks. It is usually the result of a change or problem that lingers for a while in one’s life, such as a mid life crisis, overbearing debt, or having to deal with a death in the family. Lastly, there is chronic insomnia that lasts for more than four weeks. It is often associated with another underlying medical issue – treating that condition will help towards ending chronic insomnia. It is best to see a doctor if suffering from short term insomnia and treat it before it can turn into a chronic problem.
Insomnia is also classified whether or not it a symptom of a separate medical condition. Primary insomnia is when a person has trouble sleeping without any other health conditions. A person with secondary insomnia has an underlying medical condition that is the root of the insomnia. For example, illnesses and other sleeping disorders, such as asthma and sleep apnea, can disrupt sleep cycles.
Insomnia is a very common disorder that affects millions of people. If left untreated, insomnia can potentially lead to many physical, emotional and psychological side effects of insomnia that can severely sap your energy on a daily basis.
