Insomnia Sleeping Disorder

A Common Sleep Disturbance: Insomnia Sleeping Disorder

A person is considered to have an insomnia sleeping disorder if they find that they have an inability to sleep or are unable to sleep for a reasonable period of time. Those who suffer from an insomnia sleeping disorder often complain of being unable to close their eyes or even rest for more than a few minutes at a time, and an insomnia sleeping disorder is typically considered to be caused by fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs, caffeine, or a combination of these.

There are three different types of insomnia sleeping disorders, which are: Transient, acute, and chronic. The transient form of insomnia occurs when the sufferer experiences insomnia anywhere from one night to a few weeks. A person is considered to have acute insomnia when there is an inability to sleep well for a period of three weeks to six months, and chronic insomnia occurs when the insomnia persists almost nightly for a month or longer.

Common Causes

There are a number of causes that are believed to produce insomnia, and two of the most frequent are: Sleep apnea, which is a condition that occurs when a sleeping person' s breathing is interrupted -- this form of apnea is often related to a cerebral vascular obstruction, congestive heart failure, or premature aging; and circadian rhythm sleep disorders, which cause insomnia during the night and sometimes excessive sleepiness at during the daylight hours.

There is also parasomnia, which includes a number of disorders such as nightmares, sleepwalking, violent behavior while sleeping, and REM behavior disorder; gastroesophageal reflux disease, which causes repeated awakenings during the night due to certain unpleasant sensations resulting from stomach acid that is flowing upward into the throat during sleep; and mania or hypermania, which can be present in bipolar disorder and can cause difficulty in a person trying to fall asleep.

As for the treatment for insomnia, it will of course depend on what type of insomnia you suffer from. However, typically insomniacs rely on that of sleeping tablets and other forms of sedatives to help them sleep peacefully at night. The most commonly used medications are: Temazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, nitrazepam, and midazolam. There are also some particular antidepressants that are considered to help the sleep process, such as mirtazaphine, trazodone, and doxepin, for instance. As well, if you are interested in using a more natural and alternative treatment like melatonin, ask your doctor for the green light and then feel free to give it a try.

(c)  Sleep Disorders - Tyler's Articles 2006