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With Insomnia days feel longer, you shift in and out of consciousness during the day, and the volume of everything in your life is dialed down. For everybody that has ever suffered from this condition, it not only deprives you a good nights rest but it also puts a strained on relationships, work productivity plummets, and overall morale turns sour.

What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a condition in which a person does not have the ability to fall asleep or can not sleep for an extended period of time. Insomnia can either be a primary disorder or it can also be a secondary symptom that is accompanied by a more larger problem. Insomnia can be either short term or long term. Short term can last from 1 to 3 weeks but long term can last from 4 to 9 weeks and in some cases, it can last for several months.

Types of Insomnia

• Transient Insomnia – Transient Insomnia are usually the most common type of insomnia. Typically, they last for less than a week. Transient are typically caused by changes in sleeping habits (i.e, New work schedule,ect.,), stress, or depression. People that suffer through Transient Insomnia typically have symptoms of daytime sleepiness, clumsiness, and some memory loss.
• Acute Insomnia – Acute Insomnia can last just under a month and just like Transient Insomnia, can be caused from a wide arrange of factors. Usually people that suffer under this condition have trouble with their daytime routine more so than whatever it is they do at night. Stress is a very common factor.
• Chronic Insomnia – Chronic Insomnia is a far more serious problem for some people as it can last well over a month. Chronic Insomnia is usually accompany by another disorder or can be the primary disorder. Chronic Insomnia can lead to sleep deprivation which can in turn effect the cognitive function, delaying healing time from an injured person, and studies done on lab animals have determined that sleep deprivation can also lead to eventual death.

Causes of Insomnia
There can a wide range of factors contributing to insomnia but here some of the most common causes of Insomnia.

• Life Event – This includes trauma or fear. People that may have reason for concern can keep them up at night. A birth of a new child, Financial concerns, emotional or mental tension can all be the cause of insomnia.
• Use of Stimulant/Psychoactive Drugs – The use of caffeine or hard drugs such as Cocaine or Methamphetamine can keep one up for days. Ironically, the sudden withdraw from some drugs can also cause insomnia.
• Mental Disorder – Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder are one of the many disorders that can lead to insomnia if not treated.
• Physical Exercise Athletes or people that regularly go to the gym can suffer from Insomnia if they work out to close to the hours they usually sleep.
• Hormone Shift – Menstruation or Menopause might be something to consider if a person is going through insomnia.

Treatment

• Behavioral Treatment – Behavioral Treatment is vastly preferable over Medication as medication or drugs can be lead to being dependent on sleep and can actually worsen the condition. This includes modifying sleeping habits such as sleeping at a certain time, abstaining from caffeine or other stimulants, and even try to find ways to lead a stress free day.
• Over-The-Counter Drugs – Melatonin and Benadryl can help in individual cases and can actually solve transient insomnia problems.
• Medication – Medication such as Benzodiazepines are incredibly powerful sleeping aids but can lead to tolerance or physical dependence so these types of drugs are used with extreme caution.
• Meditation – Meditation is highly recommended as the effects usually calms the mind and help ease a person into sleep.

Sleep is important as it provides the body with much needed rest and helps a person function through out the day. People that suffer from insomnia should consult a doctor should they feel that insomnia is greatly affecting their lives as it can become a larger, more serious problem.