Insomnia is characterized by an inability to sleep and/or to remain asleep for a reasonable period. Insomniacs typically complain of being unable to close their eyes or "rest their mind" for more than a few minutes at a time. Both organic and nonorganic insomnia constitute a sleep disorder. It is often caused by fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs or caffeine. An overactive mind or physical pain may also be causes. Finding the underlying cause of insomnia is usually necessary to cure it.
Three different types of insomnia exist. Insomnia may be classified as transient, acute (short-term), and chronic. Insomnia lasting from one night to a few weeks is referred to as transient. This is generally the case for most people, as one often suffers from jet lag or short-term anxiety. If this form of insomnia continues to occur from time to time, the insomnia is classified to be intermittent. Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of three weeks to six months. However, after this time, the person does not experience insomniatic episodes. Insomnia is considered to be chronic, the most serious, if it persists almost nightly for at least a month, and sometimes longer.
A person can have primary or secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia is sleeplessness that is not attributable to a medical or environmental cause. Secondary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems because of something else, such as a health condition, an example of which would be generalized anxiety disorder.
Some of the most common causes of insomnia are:
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders cause insomnia at some times of the day and excessive sleepiness at other times of the day. Common circadian rhythm sleep disorders include jet lag and delayed sleep phase syndrome. Jet lag is seen in people who travel through multiple time zones, as the time relative to the rising and falling of the sun no longer coincides with the body's internal concept of it. The insomnia experienced by shift workers is also a circadian rhythm sleep disorder.
Parasomnia includes a number of disorders of arousal or disruptive sleep events including nightmares, sleepwalking, violent behavior while sleeping, and REM behavior disorder, in which a person moves his/her physical body in response to events within his/her dreams. These conditions can often be treated successfully through medical intervention or through the use of a sleep specialist.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease causes repeated awakenings during the night due to unpleasant sensations resulting from stomach acid flowing upward into the throat while asleep.
Mania or Hypomania in bipolar disorder can cause difficulty falling asleep. A person going through a manic or hypomanic episode may feel a reduced need for sleep. Sleep deprivation can worsen a manic episode, or cause hypomania to develop into mania.
Pain can produce insomnia and finding effective ways to treat pain can provide relief. A common misperception is that the amount of sleep one requires decreases as he or she ages. The ability to sleep for long periods, rather than the need for sleep, appears to be lost as people get older. Some elderly insomniacs toss and turn in bed and occasionally fall off the bed at night, diminishing the amount of sleep they receive.
Insomnia is a common side-effect of some medications, and it can also be caused by stress, emotional upheaval, physical or mental illness, dietary allergy and poor sleep hygiene. Insomnia is a major symptom of mania in people with bipolar disorder, and it can also be a sign of hyper-thyroidism, depression, or other ailments with stimulating effects.
In addition, a rare genetic condition can cause a prion-based, permanent and eventually fatal form of insomnia called Fatal Familial Insomnia.
Treatment for insomnia
In many cases, insomnia is caused by another disease or psychological problem. In this case, medical or psychological help may be useful. All sedative drugs have the potential of causing psychological dependence where the individual can't psychologically accept that they can sleep without drugs. Certain classes of sedatives such as benzodiazepines and newer non-benzodiazepine drugs can also cause physical dependence which manifests in withdrawal symptoms if the drug is not carfully titrated down.
Many insomniacs rely on sleeping tablets and other sedatives to get rest. The most commonly used class of hypnotics prescribed for insomnia are the benzodiazepines. This includes drugs such as temazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, nitrazepam and midazolam. These medications can be addictive, especially after taking them over long periods of time.
Non-benzodiazepine prescription drugs, including Ambien and Lunesta, are quickly replacing benzodiazepines as a first-line treatment for insomnia. There are controversies over whether these non-benzodiazepine drugs are superior to benzodiazpines. These drugs appear to cause both psychological and physical dependence, and can also cause the same memory and cognitive disturbances as the benzodiazepines along with morning sedation.
The antihistamine diphenhydramine is widely used in nonprescription sleep aids, with a 50 mg recommended dose mandated by the FDA. In the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other countries, a 50 to 100 mg recommended dose is permitted.
Some antidepressants such as mirtazapine, trazodone and doxepin have a sedative effect, and are prescribed off label to treat insomnia. The major drawback of these drugs is that they have antihistaminergic, anticholinergic and antiadrenergic properties which can lead to many side effects.
Low doses of Atypical antipsychotics such as quetiapine(Seroquel) are also prescribed for their sedative effect but the danger of neurological and cognitive side effects make these drugs a poor choice to treat insomnia.
Some insomniacs use herbs such as valerian, chamomile, lavender, hops, and passion-flower. Valerian has undergone the most studies and appears to be modestly effective.
Alcohol may have sedative properties, but the REM suppressing effects of the drug prevent restful, quality sleep. Hangovers can also lead to morning grogginess.
Some traditional remedies for insomnia have included drinking warm milk before bedtime, taking a warm bath in the evening; exercising vigorously for half an hour in the afternoon, eating a large lunch and then having only a light evening meal at least three hours before bed, avoiding mentally stimulating activities in the evening hours, and making sure to get up early in the morning and to retire to bed at a reasonable hour. Pomegranates are also believed to be able to help insomniacs sleep.
Traditional Chinese medicine has included treatment for insomnia throughout its history. A typical approach may utilize acupuncture, dietary and lifestyle analysis, herbology and other techniques, with the goal of resolving the problem at a subtle level. Although these methods have not been scientifically proven, some insomniacs report that these remedies are sufficient to break the insomnia cycle without the need for sedatives and sleeping tablets. Warm milk contains high levels of tryptophan, a natural sedative. Using aromatherapy, including lavender oil and other relaxing essential oils, may also help induce a state of restfulness. Melatonin has proved effective for some insomniacs, mostly in regulating the sleep/waking cycle.
The more relaxed a person is, the greater the likelihood of getting a good night's sleep. Relaxation techniques such as meditation have been proven to help people sleep. Such techniques can lower stress levels from both the mind and body, which leads to a deeper, more restful sleep
And you are adivised to:
Avoid all stimulating substances/activities such as caffeine and exercise before bedtime.
Avoid distractions in the bedroom including excessive light and noise, television, alarm clocks, etc.
Avoid stressful thoughts and feelings before bedtime and while attempting to fall asleep.
Combat worries and preoccupations about the day ahead by tending to plans and schedules before bedtime.
Background noise, such as a fan or soft rhythmic music, can serve to ease some individuals into sleep.
Consult a clinical psychiatrist. Mirtazapine 7.5mg at bed time may be helpful.
2006-10-22 22:07:06
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answer #1
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answered by Ajeesh Kumar 4
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2016-12-25 15:33:45
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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A very sick mama dog is an extremely stressful situation. And I understand your anger at some of the answers that you received. It is normal for you to want to vent back to these folks some of your anger and frustration. So, try to remain calm and keep your focus on your dog & pups. Don't let this cloud your true goal - a healthy dog. And yes, I would love to know this outcome. Kudos to you for your quick action in caring for 7 pups! It isn't easy! I wish that more people would realize that there are situations that stump even the best of vets. While the calicum issue is the most common with these symptoms, it is not the only cause. And your dedication to this dog and her pups is very, very admirable. So, you know that you are responding to this crisis in the best manner possible. You are doing all you can do in an extremely difficult situation. Let God sort out the rest. Peace
2016-03-16 07:09:23
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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It's a little early to assume that there is something wrong because you have a touch of sleeplessness. I get it all the time, like right now. As I get older I find I am sleeping less. A lot of the time I only sleep 5-6 hours and wish I could sleep longer. I really don't like living long days, tends to get boring.
2006-10-22 22:07:38
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Hi,
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2014-09-10 22:48:56
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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There are many causes to premature ejaculation and every cause requires a different treatment depending on each individual's situation and preference as well. Sometimes premature ejaculation is due to an over-sensitive glans (skin of penis head). This reduces your ejaculatory control. At other times, it could also be a matter of psychology effect like stress, fear of poor performing. A weak PC muscles (muscles located between the anus and testicles) also causes premature ejaculation. Good news is premature ejaculation can be prevented and cured and there are many treatments out there. But to start off, it's advisable to resort to some safe, natural and proven methods which cure the problem from its root cause. I was once suffered from the same problem and that brought so much stress to me and my girlfriend (now my wife). I tried many different treatments including cream, pill and gel. But really healed me was some simple proven natural techniques including exercising my PC muscles, learning to monitor and control my level of sexual arousal, using last-longer sexual positions, correct breathing methods etc. I learned the hard way, but you really dont have to. Here is the free ebook where you can get a general idea of what premature ejaculation really is, its causes and how to treat premature ejaculation: ( http://prematurejaculation.kyma.info ) The fact is, you can really cure and control premature ejaculation in a matter of weeks, you just need the right information. Hope this helps.
2014-09-29 14:19:27
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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Nothing wrong with you! The requisites for sleep are tiredness and peacefulness. Sounds like you worry too much about things - if you mind is active or worried, it is harder to fall asleep. Instead of wasting that hour trying to get to sleep do something chilled and relaxing, like reading or watching TV or a soothing hot bath. Sweet Dreams!
2006-10-22 22:19:44
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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You have insomnia. There are some over the counter medications you can take, but a glass of herbal tea (non-caf) and C-SPAN usually put me to sleep in about 15 minutes.
Also, try watching a foreign movie with no subtitles. I find my brain gets tired of trying to decode what's going on and I get sleepy.
2006-10-22 22:36:34
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answer #8
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answered by nixkuroi 2
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Thats what I was going to say. Read Kumar's answer... it will put you to sleep. Side comment... If you wanted to read a whole article about insomnia I assume you could have googled it yourself.
Anyway, what works for me is reading until I get tired. I have found the more I stress about not getting to sleep, the more I have trouble getting to sleep. Do something boring...
2006-10-22 22:20:53
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answer #9
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answered by spiritualjourneyseeker 5
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2016-04-21 12:40:59
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answer #10
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answered by ? 3
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Ejaculation can be considered premature when it occurs 30 seconds to 4 minutes into sex, depending on different cultures, countries and experts. Behavioural techniques can help you delay orgasm. Learn here https://tr.im/yBU5q
These include the start-and-stop method and the squeeze technique. A combination of these techniques along with sexual counselling and medication (either using an anaesthetic cream or an oral tablet) is recommended.
2016-02-14 04:31:27
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answer #11
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answered by Shoshana 3
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