Insomnia
Alternative Names:
Psychophysiological insomnia, Learned insomnia, Chronic insomnia, Primary insomnia, Sleeplessness, Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Definition:
Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. While the amount of sleep needed varies among individuals, most people need about seven to eight hours a night. People affected by insomnia often wake up feeling like that have not slept at all.
There are two different types of insomnia:
- Primary insomnia – sleeplessness that has no known cause
- Secondary insomnia – sleeplessness attributed to a medical condition
Symptoms:
Common signs and symptoms of insomnia:
- Lying awake for extended periods of time
- Awakening often during the night
- Feeling tired during the day
- Falling asleep during the day
- Difficulty paying attention or focusing on tasks
- Continuous worries about sleep
- Irritability, depression, or anxiety
- Waking prematurely
Exams/Testing:
Schedule an appointment with your doctor if your insomnia symptoms begin to make daily functioning difficult. Your doctor will most likely do a physical exam and may also ask you to complete a questionnaire about your symptoms.
Your doctor may decide to run blood tests to search for an underlying cause, like a thyroid condition, or ask you to spend the night in a sleep center if your insomnia could possibly be attributed to another condition like sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.
Outlook/Prognosis:
Insomnia treatment usually requires making lifestyle changes. The following behaviors or activities may relieve or eliminate your insomnia symptoms:
- Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol before bed.
- Don’t take daily naps.
- Eat on a regular schedule and avoid big meals before bedtime.
- Exercise two or more hours before going to bed.
- Sleep in a condition in which you are comfortable.
- Use your bed exclusively for sleep and sex.
- Do relaxing and distracting activities right before bedtime.
- Move to another room if you cannot fall asleep with 30 minutes and do quiet activities until you feel tired.
- Try and write your anxieties in a journal before going to sleep.
Causes (specific drugs):
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