What Is Insomnia? Causes and Symptoms Of Insomnia?

Have you been having sleeping disorder and probably wondering what the problem is?. Well it’s possible to say you might be experiencing insomnia. You’re not the only person having this sleeping disorder, you’re just one out of a million people experiencing it. Today we would be discussing about insomnia, it’s causes, symptoms, types, treatments and also how you can stop it naturally.

What is insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleeping disorder that is known for it’s symptoms of unrest and inability to sleep.
Insomnia affects millions of people all over the world and people who suffer from insomnia find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep, insomnia causes them to be restless at all times.
Insomnia leads to fatigue, difficulty in concentration, restless and other problem.

Types Of Insomnia:

There are two types of insomnia, they include the following:
1. Short-term or acute insomnia
2. Chronic insomnia

Short-term or acute insomnia:

Short-term insomnia is a brief period of experiencing difficulty in sleeping or staying asleep. It is caused by stressful events which we may have have experienced, such as : the loss of a young one, drugs, medical diagnosis, a pandemic etc. Short-term insomnia doesn’t usually last long, it is experienced for three months or less and then the symptoms tends to fade on their own as time passes. However short-term insomnia can be persistent and then become chronic. It affects people of all ages, including children, although it is more common in women than in men.

Chronic insomnia:

Chronic insomnia is a long term pattern of experiencing difficulty sleeping. If a person has trouble falling or staying asleep at least three nights per week for three months or longer, it is considered as chronic insomnia.
Chronic insomnia is caused by stressful situations, poor sleep hygiene, persistent nightmares, mental health discovers etc . It affects people of all ages especially women.

Other types of insomnia include:

* Onset Insomnia:
Onset insomnia is the inability to sleep when you’re ready to sleep or the trouble initiating sleep. It can be short-term or chronic.
Causes – psychological or psychiatrist issues like stress, anxiety and depression.

* Maintainance Insomnia: Difficulty staying asleep or waking too early and trying to go back to sleep.
Causes – Stress.

*Behavioral Insomnia:
Children having difficulty while trying to fall asleep or maintaining sleep.

Causes of insomnia:

Insomnia is caused by the following reasons:
1. Getting too little exercise:
Exercise improves the quality and duration of sleep, therefore not getting enough exercise can actually decrease the quality and duration of sleep which can cause insomnia.

2. Using hard drugs, such as cocaine:
Cocaine is a stimulant drug that makes one awake and restless, constant use of cocaine can cause insomnia.

3. Having bad dreams.

4. Stress:
Sleep is important for our mental and physical health, lack of sleep can cause harm to our health, it is advised to stay away from strenuous work because stress causes tension and unrest to the body.

5. Having an irregular sleep schedule:

6. Poor sleeping habits.

7. Anxiety and depression.
Anxiety is one of the causes of insomnia. While experiencing anxiety attack, you may feel exhausted, fatigued, and restless, then falling asleep becomes difficult for you because your body has sensed fear.

Depression causes people to be restless and have sleepless nights.

8. Neurological problems.

9. Bipolar disorder.

Symptoms Of Insomnia:

How do you know if you have insomnia?.
1. Experiencing difficulty falling asleep at night.
2. Waking up too early.
3. Experiencing daytime tiredness/ fatigue.
4. Worrying.
5. Anxiety or depression, Irritability.
6. Difficulty in remembering/ difficulty in studying.
7. Using medications or alcohol to fall asleep.
8. Difficulty in socializing.
9. Mood swings.

Recommended treatments for insomnia:

1. Go for counseling.
2. Improving your sleeping habits.
3. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
4. Taking prescribed meds etc.
Here are some of the recommended meds for the treatment of insomnia:
* Statins
* Alpha blockers
* Corticosteroids
* Beta blockers etc.

Natural ways of curbing insomnia:

1. Avoid taking in chemicals that disrupts sleep such as caffeine and alcohol.
2. Eat light meals at night.
3. Exercise regularly but mostly during the day.
4. Take hot showers before going to sleep.
5. Avoid sleeping with bright lights on.
6. Avoid smoking.
7. Try relaxing before going to bed.