Name That Insomnia - The Types of Insomnia That Keep You From Sleeping
Find yourself watching the clock at 2 a.
m.
, waiting for sleep to finally allow your body to rest? Before you can solve your sleep troubles, you need to pinpoint which of the many types of insomnia you suffer.
From chronic insomnia to primary insomnia, this list will help you start down the road to a restful recovery.
I've-Been-Tired-for-Months Insomnia If bags have taken up permanent residence under your eyes, you likely suffer from chronic insomnia.
This sleep disorder is the inability to sleep for more than five or six hours a night for two or three days a week.
Although the problem sometimes resolves itself for short periods, chronic insomnia often rears its ugly head regularly.
In fact, if you've lived with this type of insomnia for months or years, you may even start to think that this pattern is normal-but it's not! What's-Sleep? Insomnia Known in medical circles as severe insomnia, sufferers typically don't get any sleep for more than three days each week.
This is one of the serious types of insomnia and can be triggered by a number of causes, from bipolar disorder to breathing difficulty.
Because severe insomnia can have a negative impact on the nervous and immune systems, a health professional that specializes in sleep disorders can provide the short-term relief you need to start getting this problem under control.
Life-is-Changing Insomnia Life change is another sleep stealer, and it's one of the common types of insomnia found in women.
From the excitement and anxiety of learning you're pregnant to the swelling and heartburn of the last trimester, insomnia is a common pregnancy complaint.
Perimenopause and menopause are also life changes that might disturb sleep.
In each of these situations, hormone shifts as well as physical and emotional changes can leave even the most pleasant woman feeling tired and cranky.
Middle-of-the-Night-Insomnia You slip into bed after a long day and close your eyes for a good night's rest.
Sleep comes, but soon the eyes crack open again.
A glance at the alarm clock tells you it's only 3 a.
m.
Now you're awake, wide awake.
My friend, you have what's known as middle insomnia.
This is one of the more insidious types of insomnia because you fall asleep only to have it snatched away before you can get any benefit from it.
Awake-Before-the-Roosters Insomnia Okay, so maybe you don't live close enough to a farm to actually hear the roosters call, but if you're awake well before the crack of dawn you likely suffer from terminal, or late, insomnia.
Despite the ominous sounding name, this simply means you wake up too soon before the alarm sounds off.
I-Have-No-Idea-What's-Causing-My-Insomnia Insomnia When your sleepless nights are not directly caused by a condition, such as sleep apnea, you have what medical professionals call primary insomnia.
This can be one of the more frustrating types of insomnia to treat because there's no clear medical reason for it.
If you, with the help of a health care professional, have ruled out physical, mental, or environmental conditions, don't throw up your arms in frustration.
It just means you might need to dig a little deeper to find your way to a good night's sleep.
It doesn't matter which of these types of insomnia you suffer from; you can find the help you need.
Once you've identified the culprit, whether it's chronic insomnia, middle insomnia or a combination of types, there are methods available that will transform your sleepless nights into a restful dreamland.
m.
, waiting for sleep to finally allow your body to rest? Before you can solve your sleep troubles, you need to pinpoint which of the many types of insomnia you suffer.
From chronic insomnia to primary insomnia, this list will help you start down the road to a restful recovery.
I've-Been-Tired-for-Months Insomnia If bags have taken up permanent residence under your eyes, you likely suffer from chronic insomnia.
This sleep disorder is the inability to sleep for more than five or six hours a night for two or three days a week.
Although the problem sometimes resolves itself for short periods, chronic insomnia often rears its ugly head regularly.
In fact, if you've lived with this type of insomnia for months or years, you may even start to think that this pattern is normal-but it's not! What's-Sleep? Insomnia Known in medical circles as severe insomnia, sufferers typically don't get any sleep for more than three days each week.
This is one of the serious types of insomnia and can be triggered by a number of causes, from bipolar disorder to breathing difficulty.
Because severe insomnia can have a negative impact on the nervous and immune systems, a health professional that specializes in sleep disorders can provide the short-term relief you need to start getting this problem under control.
Life-is-Changing Insomnia Life change is another sleep stealer, and it's one of the common types of insomnia found in women.
From the excitement and anxiety of learning you're pregnant to the swelling and heartburn of the last trimester, insomnia is a common pregnancy complaint.
Perimenopause and menopause are also life changes that might disturb sleep.
In each of these situations, hormone shifts as well as physical and emotional changes can leave even the most pleasant woman feeling tired and cranky.
Middle-of-the-Night-Insomnia You slip into bed after a long day and close your eyes for a good night's rest.
Sleep comes, but soon the eyes crack open again.
A glance at the alarm clock tells you it's only 3 a.
m.
Now you're awake, wide awake.
My friend, you have what's known as middle insomnia.
This is one of the more insidious types of insomnia because you fall asleep only to have it snatched away before you can get any benefit from it.
Awake-Before-the-Roosters Insomnia Okay, so maybe you don't live close enough to a farm to actually hear the roosters call, but if you're awake well before the crack of dawn you likely suffer from terminal, or late, insomnia.
Despite the ominous sounding name, this simply means you wake up too soon before the alarm sounds off.
I-Have-No-Idea-What's-Causing-My-Insomnia Insomnia When your sleepless nights are not directly caused by a condition, such as sleep apnea, you have what medical professionals call primary insomnia.
This can be one of the more frustrating types of insomnia to treat because there's no clear medical reason for it.
If you, with the help of a health care professional, have ruled out physical, mental, or environmental conditions, don't throw up your arms in frustration.
It just means you might need to dig a little deeper to find your way to a good night's sleep.
It doesn't matter which of these types of insomnia you suffer from; you can find the help you need.
Once you've identified the culprit, whether it's chronic insomnia, middle insomnia or a combination of types, there are methods available that will transform your sleepless nights into a restful dreamland.