Insomniais a common sleep disorder that makes it hard to fall asleep and/or remain asleep.
Insomnia prevents you from getting the amount and quality of sleep you should probably function normally.
Without treatment, insomnia can affect daytime alertness.
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It can impact your ability to think, remember, and react.
It can also affect your health and disease risk.
Not everyone who struggles with insomnia has the same issues.
This article discusses the types of insomnia, their symptoms, and how the condition is diagnosed and treated.
The effect of insufficient sleep on your body is generally the same across all types of insomnia.
Acute vs.
Chronic Insomnia
Insomnia can be classified by the amount of time the problem affects your life.
It can be described as acute (short term) or chronic (long term).
It can also occur for a period, stop, and then recur.
Secondary Insomnia
Insomnia can also be classified based on the condition’s relationship to other issues.
Primary insomniaoccurs when your inability to sleep isn’t linked to a known cause.
It can be acute or chronic.
Maintenance Insomnia
Insomnia can be defined based on where it interferes with the naturalsleep cycle.
It can prevent you from falling asleep and staying asleep.
Onset insomnia affects your ability to fall asleep at the time you wish.
It is usually linked with psychological or psychiatric issues.
Onset insomnia can also be a symptom secondary to a medical condition or sleep disorder.
It occurs more often in older adults since sleep cycles change with age.
This makes you more aware of environmental changes, such as noise.
They occur when children associate certain behaviors with falling asleep.
They include:
Idiopathic Insomnia
Idiopathic insomnia is a form of chronic insomnia.
It occurs without any visible causes.
It often begins in childhood and becomes a lifelong problem that occurs nightly.
This problem can develop when you don’t have a healthy bedtime routine to help you fall asleep naturally.
Instead of falling asleep, people focus on their sleep and are concerned about not getting enough of it.
Psychophysiological insomnia is considered a learned form of insomnia.
Even though you may realize that your anxiety interferes with sleep, the worry increases as you remain awake.
Without proper rest, your body and brain don’t have a chance to repair themselves.
Lack of sleep can impact your overall well-being.
The condition is usually resolved when the underlying medical or psychological cause is treated.
Research indicates that the best results are achieved by combining medical and nonmedical treatments rather than using one alone.
It can prevent falling asleep and staying asleep.
There is more than one throw in of insomnia.
Types differ by cause, how long they last, and how they affect you.
To treat insomnia, you must treat the cause of your sleep problems.
Treatment can include cognitive behavioral therapy, medications, and lifestyle changes.
Using both medical and nonmedical therapies can improve your sleep.
A sleep expert can help you find the treatment you need.
Insomnia often improves or resolves when the primary cause is treated.
This can help you enjoy the health and mental benefits of a good night’s sleep.
A Word From Verywell
Living with any insomnia can affect your quality of life.
Without enough sleep, it’s normal to feel tired and moody throughout the day.
Chronic irritability can affect both personal and work relationships.
It can also increase your risk of causing accidents as your thinking skills weaken without enough sleep.
The good news is that insomnia can often improve when you treat the cause of the problem.
Consult your healthcare provider to get started on a plan to fix your sleep problems.
The result can improve your health, relationships, and the way you feel.
Adults over age 65 may need less sleep, usually between seven and eight hours nightly.
The throw in of foods and drinks you consume can affect your ability to get quality sleep.
Some foods can interfere with natural sleep patterns, leading to insomnia over time.
Studies indicate a link between melatonin and quality sleep.
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