4 Types Of Insomnia

What are the types of insomnia? 

Acute Insomnia 

Probably the most common type of insomnia is acute insomnia - this is typically described as a short spout of insomnia that lasts anywhere between a few days and a couple of weeks. It is also referred to as adjustment insomnia because it most commonly occurs when you experience a stressful event, such as sudden bereavement or a new job. People suffering from jet lag will also most likely go through a period of acute insomnia. 

Other causes of acute insomnia include environmental elements that impair your sleep, such as noise or light. In addition to sleeping in a new and uncomfortable place, you may develop insomnia if you are in any kind of physical discomfort or pain. If you are suffering from an illness or you’re on specific medication, then it could have a negative impact on your regular sleeping pattern as well.  

In general, acute insomnia lasts for less than three months and symptoms may fade on their own as time passes. Without recovery, however, it may potentially progress to chronic insomnia. 

Chronic Insomnia 

Chronic insomnia is a long-term pattern of sleep difficulty for at least three days in a week for at least a month or longer. There are two types of chronic insomnia and can manifest as either primary or secondary in nature. 

Primary chronic insomnia, also known as idiopathic insomnia, has no clear explanation or underlying medical issue. The cause of idiopathic insomnia is typically unknown and is being studied by scientists. On the other hand, secondary insomnia or comorbid insomnia, is more prevalent - and links to a complication involving another illness. 

Similar to acute insomnia, a common trigger for chronic insomnia is emotional distress. However, this sleeping disorder may also occur due to a long history of irregular sleep schedules due to the following: 

• Shift work sleep disorder
• Poor sleep hygiene
• Underlying mental health disorders (i.e., anxiety, depression)

• Physical and neurological illnesses (i.e., diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder),
• Persistent nightmares
• Medications (i.e., chemotherapy medications, antidepressants, beta-blockers)
• And other sleep disorders (i.e., obstructive sleep apnea, sleep paralysis)

Onset Insomnia 

Onset insomnia refers to difficulty falling asleep at the beginning of the night or when attempting to fall asleep. Common symptoms include tossing and turning and not being able to fall asleep even after spending 20 to 30 minutes in bed. 

This type of insomnia can be traced back to a variety of triggers, including irregular sleeping schedules, poor sleep hygiene, or mental health problems. 

In general, anxious and depressed people carry worries to bed. These emotional and mental fixations cause hyperarousal, which further makes it difficult to fall asleep. This breeds into a vicious cycle involving anxiety and onset insomnia. 

The best way to combat onset insomnia is to understand its root cause. If you are experiencing a sleep disorder due to anxiety, seek professional medical help to help you understand the underlying conditions. 

Maintenance Insomnia 

People with maintenance insomnia experience difficulties staying asleep throughout the night. Oftentimes, this results in waking up at least once or too early and struggling to fall asleep again. The fragmented sleep associated with maintenance insomnia results in poor sleep and leads to negative consequences such as excessive daytime sleepiness and sluggishness. 

Maintenance insomnia can be caused by these conditions 

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Sinus allergies
• Periodic limb movement disorder
• Sleep apnea
• Asthma

• Restless leg syndrome
• Chronic pain conditions

Treatment for maintenance insomnia may involve medication, lifestyle changes, sleep disorder treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, or a combination of all. 

Natural remedies for insomnia 

If you’re at all concerned about whether insomnia can go away, home remedies may be able to alleviate the symptoms of insomnia if your sleeping patterns are getting in the way of your quality of life. 

• Meditation: The practice of meditation entails sitting quietly and breathing slowly and steadily - starting a regular meditation routine might help alleviate the symptoms of insomnia.

• Yoga: Much like meditation, performing yoga before bed can help you rest and unwind.

• Exercise: Exercise is beneficial to one's overall health. It can improve your mood, give you more energy, help you lose weight, and help you sleep better.
• Monitor your sleep: In the last decade or so, we’ve had the luxury of being able to record our sleep patterns without being hooked up to a giant, interfering machine. The invention of sports watches has allowed us to take a closer look at how our body behaves in the hours in which we sleep.  

Takeaway 

As you can see, the different types of insomnia can manifest in diverse ways. If you suffer from this, it is not something that you should take lightly as it has numerous negative implications for overall life quality. 

You should consider consulting your doctor to examine your condition and intervene if necessary. This is the key to finding the right treatment and improving long-term sleep health.