Crippling Insomnia: Types and Treatments

October 29, 2021

Finding a good night’s sleep when your insomnia is so bad will feel like you’re suffocating. You may have been told that there are many different types of insomnia, but what does this mean? Below, we discuss the common types of insomnia and how to identify them and treat them.

What is insomnia?

This sleep disorder causes difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. This may lead to unrestorative sleep and daytime fatigue. Symptoms include difficulty initiating sleep, dissatisfaction with sleep quality, often waking during the night, waking too early in the morning, and poor tolerance for changes in wake time.

Chronic insomnia

There are a number of different types of chronic insomnia, which include: psychophysiological insomnia, idiopathic hypersomnia, and circadian rhythm disorders.

Psychophysiological insomnia

Psychophysiological insomnia is a type of long-term sleep disorder that occurs when poor sleeping habits have been formed over time. This can lead to belief systems about not being able to fall or stay asleep at night, as well as negative thoughts and emotions about going to bed.

It also often leads individuals who suffer from this condition to try too hard in making sure they do fall asleep by lying awake for hours on end with their mind racing leading them even more stressed than before they went into bed. Treatment options might include medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Idiopathic hypersomnia

Idiopathic hypersomnia is a chronic sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and possibly falls asleep at inappropriate times, even if the individual has had an adequate amount of nighttime sleep.

It may be caused by neurological conditions or disorders that affect your brain, such as narcolepsy or tumors; metabolic issues like low blood sugar; endocrine problems like low thyroid function; psychiatric illness including depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), stress/anxiety and others. Treatment options include medications from a snoring dentist to help with EDS symptoms, lifestyle changes, and psychological therapies to address mental health concerns.

Comorbid Insomnia

Comorbid insomnia is when an individual has two or more types of insomnia at the same time. Treatments for comorbid insomnia include cognitive behavioral therapy, lifestyle changes, and drugs.

Acute Insomnia

One type of sleep disorder that is becoming more common among the population is called Acute Insomnia. Acute insomnia can be defined as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep for at least three consecutive nights. This type of insomnia may also occur in response to major life changes, such as moving to a new city or starting a new job.

It is important to note that acute insomnia may subside by itself with time. However, it is common for individuals who experience this problem to also have issues like depression, chronic pain, or other serious health conditions that need medical attention. If you think you might be experiencing Acute Insomnia, contact your doctor for help.

Transient insomnia

Transient Insomnia is a sleep disorder that lasts only a few days. In some instances, it can be related to specific events such as jet lag. There are many different types of transient insomnia, which include: short-term insomnia, short-term nonorganic insomnia, and short-term delirium.

Short-term insomnia

Short-term insomnia is a sleep disorder that occurs in the short term and may last for up to three weeks. The most common causes of short-term insomnia are pain, stress, caffeine consumption, anxiety disorders, depression disorders, drug use (including alcohol), poor sleeping habits (such as excessive napping during the day). Treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy and medication such as benzodiazepines.

Short-term nonorganic insomnia

Short-term nonorganic insomnia is an inability to sleep due to physical factors affecting your ability to sleep properly at night time. These types of problems can usually clear themselves before you need any treatment option other than good-quality bedding. If this does not happen, then there are a number of other treatments that can be tried. These usually include counseling, lifestyle changes, and sleep hygiene education or adjustments to sleeping times.

Short-term delirium

Short-term delirium is a type of short-term insomnia that includes feelings such as disorientation, hallucinations, delusions, and confusion. There are various causes for this type of insomnia, including drug use (including alcohol), depression disorders, anxiety disorders, pain conditions, fever/illness causing high body temperature, or seizures.

If you have been using drugs regularly, then the withdrawal effects could also cause transient delirium. Treatment options may vary depending on what has triggered your symptoms but would often involve things like stopping any medication being taken that might trigger the problem and psychological therapies to help deal with stressors.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that can impair normal life activity and worsen mental health. Insomnia types may vary depending on the duration of symptoms, whether or not they are chronic or acute in nature, as well as other factors such as comorbid insomnia (when an individual has two different forms of sleep problems simultaneously).