Can't Sleep Because Of Insomnia?

Can't Sleep Because Of Insomnia?

By Kevin Thomas Sr

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders that people around the world suffer from, and it isn't limited to any age, gender, race, or demographic. If you are suffering from insomnia, the good news is that you can get over it. It will be a challenge, but it is possible if you understand more about insomnia, the types of insomnia, what causes it, and how to deal with it. Below you will find everything you need to know...
Symptoms
Everyone experiences insomnia in different ways, and the symptoms of this sleep disorder range from mild to fairly serious, depending on how long it lasts. Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Waking up often in the middle of the night
• Waking up earlier than you should or before you feel rested
• Having a hard time getting to sleep at night
• Feeling tired or not well-rested when you wake up in the morning
• Being anxious, depressed, or irritable
• Feeling sleepy or fatigued during the day
• Getting headaches as a result of tension
• Making more mistakes and having more accidents than normal
• Having a hard time concentrating and paying attention
• Worrying about your lack of sleep
• Feeling problems in your stomach and intestines

All of these things are symptoms of insomnia, but did you know that there are different kinds of insomnia?
Types of Insomnia
General insomnia is the name given to the simple form of insomnia, but there are actually 10 types of insomnia overall:

1. General


2. Idiopathic, a sleep disorder that lasts from childhood into adulthood


3. Adjustment or acute, usually the result of a new source of stress


4. Insomnia as a result of caffeine or drug use


5. Behavioral, when children stay awake all night due to a lack of a set bedtime


6. Insomnia related to some medical condition, such as a mental disorder or thyroid problem


7. Organic, unspecified, which is when there is a physical cause, but it hasn't yet been determined what the cause is


8. Nonorganic, unspecified, which is when all physical causes of the sleep disorder has been ruled out but the real cause hasn't been found


9. Psychophysiological, often the result of over-anxiety or worry


10. Paradoxical, a form of the sleep disorder that causes the person to hardly sleep but with very little daytime fatigue or sleepiness as a result

So What Causes Sleep Disorders Like This?
There are a number of things that are responsible for causing the various types of insomnia, such as:

• Substances - Caffeine, alcohol, and drugs are just a few substances that can cause the sleep disorders, but they are all stimulants that either prevent you from sleeping well during the night or prevent you from falling asleep.


• Anxiety and Stress - Both of these emotional causes are probably the most common causes of sleep disorders, and the anxiety and stress can range from mild worry or pressure to full blown depression and burnout.


• Medications - There are a number of medications that can affect sleep patterns, such as cortico-steroids, stimulants, allergy meds, hypertension meds, heart medications, and more. Even some OTC medications contain stimulants like caffeine and taurine, or even antihistamines that can cause urinary problems that cause you to be restless in the night.


• Poor sleep habits - If you are used to getting up in the middle of the night, you follow an irregular sleep schedule, or you sleep in an uncomfortable environment, a sleep disorder may be the result.


• Medical disorders - There are a number of disorders that can cause insomnia, such as GERD, cancer, heart failure, arthritis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, strokes, and an overactive thyroid - among others.


• Learned insomnia - This occurs when people worry too much about sleeping, and the worry causes them to sleep poorly - at least until they move into a more conducive environment.


• Late Eating - Those that eat late in the evening often experience discomfort or pain as their food is digesting while they are laying down, and late eating can cause acid reflux, heartburn, and other problems that can be painful or disrupting.


• Age - As people age, they tend to sleep less and less. Changes in health, activities, sleep patterns, environments, and medications can often lead to insomnia.

Insomnia Treatments
There are a number of treatments that are recommended for sleep disorders like insomnia:

• OTC Meds - These include antihistamines that induce drowsiness.


• Prescription Meds - Sleeping pills may be prescribed by doctors, or an anti-depressant combined with a sleeping pill if depression accompanies the sleeping disorder.


• Behavior Therapy - This is the most common treatment for sleeping disorders, as the underlying cause of the sleeping problem is often related to emotional or mental problems. Sleep hygiene therapy helps to educate insomniacs regarding sleep habits that promote good sleep health, while cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to help replace the anxious thoughts with more positive ones that lead to good sleep. Relaxation techniques are taught in order to help relax the mind as well as the body for sleep time, while stimulus control therapy helps to make the bedroom a place more conducive to sleep. Light therapy is used to help reprogram the body's internal clock and alter sleeping patterns, and sleep restriction is basically limiting the amount of time you sleep in order to induce drowsiness the following day.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes
For those that want to improve their sleep habits on their own, here are a few home remedies and lifestyle changes to try:

• Make yourself sleep at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning. Following a schedule will help keep your sleeping patterns stable.


• Stop TRYING to sleep, but just sleep when you feel tired without worrying about it.


• Try different things to relax, such as having sex, taking a nice bath, or reading in the evening.


• Cut back on naps, as they throw off your sleeping patterns.


• Make your bedroom the PERFECT place to sleep.


• Stop drinking coffee, tea, or cola, and quit smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking recreational drugs.


• Check with your doctor if you think some medication is preventing your sleeping.


• Hide the clocks. If you wake up in the middle of the night, you won't have to worry about how much or how little sleep you are getting if you can't see the clocks.

We've gone through great lengths here at what can help me sleep to help you find solutions to your sleeping problems.You'll discover exactly what types of sleep disorders might be effecting your sleep patterns which in turn may have a negative impact on you getting the restful,peaceful sleep we all want and deserve.
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