CAUSES OF INSOMNIA

For a person who struggles for hours to get a sleep, no matter how tired they are or wakes up in the middle of the night and lie awake for hours, anxiously watching the clock with no trace of sleep, such person is abviously suffering from insomnia. Insomnia is a common sleep problem and it can be so frustrating to toss and turn during the night, only to wake up bleary-eyed at the sound of the alarm and drag through the day exhausted.
In order to properly & effectively cure or treat insomnia as will be later discused here, a person need to become a sleep detective. Emotional issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression causes half of all insomnia cases. Daytime habits, sleep routine, and physical health may also play a role. It is therefore important to identify all possible causes of annoying insomnia and once one can trace out the root cause, cure or treatment can be tailored accordingly.

If you find yourself not getting enough quality sleep such that no matter how you try to sleep, you just can't or even if you sucessfully fall asleep after so much trial, you find youself awake again within a short period, find out;
* Are you under a lot of stress?
* Are you depressed? or do you feel so emotionally flat?
* Do you struggle with chronic feelings of anxiety or worry?
* Have you recently gone throuh a traumatic experience?
* Do you have any health problems that may be interfering with sleep?
* Are you taking any medications that might be affecting your sleep?
* Is your sleep environment quiet and comfortable?
* Are you spending enough time in sunlight during the day and in darkness at night?
* Do you try to go to bed and get up around the same time every day?
A yes to any or more of the above questions can be a cause of insomnia. Below are sub division of causes of insomnia.
Psychological problems that can cause insomnia: depression, anxiety, chronic sress, bipolar, disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder.

Medications that can cause insomnia: antidepressant; cold and flu medications that contains alcohol; pain lelievers that contain caffeine (Midol, Excedrin); diuretics, corticosteroids, thyroid hormone, high blood pressure medications.

Medical problems that can cause insomnia: acid reflux, allergies, cancer, kidney disease, asthma, parkinson's disease, hyperthyroidism, chronic pain.

Sleep disorder that can cause insomnia: restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea, narcolepsy.

WHAT IS INSOMNIA?

Insomnia pronounced (in-SOM-ne-ah) is a condition in which a person or an indivudual finds it difficult to fall or remain asleep. Since it's a symtom and not a stand alone diagnosis or a disease, it may therefore be due to inadequate quality or quantity of sleep.

Insomnia is not defind by a specific numbers of hours of sleep that one gets, since individuals vary widely in their sleep needs and practices. Eventhough we all know how we feel and perform after one or more sleepless nights, only few seek medical advice. Many people remain unaware of the behavioral and medical options available to treat insomnia.

There are basicly three types of insomnia; Transient insomnia, Acute insomnia and Cronic insomnia. They are individualy explained thus;

1. Transient insomnia: This occurs when symptoms lasts for a few days usually less than a week. It can be caused by another disorder, by change in the sleep environment, by the timing of sleep, severe depression or by stress. Its consequences which are; sleepiness and impaired psychomotor performance are similar to those of sleep deprivation.

2. Acute insomnia: This is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of less than a month.

3. Chronic insomnia: This has the longest duration. It can lasts for several months or even a year. It can be caused by another disorder, or it can be a primary disorder and its effects vary according to its causes. They might include muscular fatigue, hallucinatios, and or mental fatigue. Some people who live with this diorder sees things as if they are happening in slow motion wherein moving objects seem to blend together. It causes double vision.

Insomnia affects all ages groups. among adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence tends to increase with age. The condition can lead to poor performance at work or school and it can also lead to poor immune system fuction, obesity, depression anxiety, reduced reaction time and an increased risk and severity of long-term diseases.