Did You Know That There Are Different Types Of Insomnia?

Depending on the cause, duration or consequences, we can say that there are different types of insomnia. In this article we will review the most important of its kind.

There are several different types of insomnia, all depending on when at night they occur. Read about them in this article.

Problems falling asleep or staying asleep is a very common problem in the world today.

Depending on the cause, duration or consequences, we can say that there are different types of insomnia. In this article, we will review the most important of its kind.

What is insomnia?

It is quite normal that sometimes it can be difficult to fall asleep if we, for example. are excited. If you can not sleep the night before a big event (a trip, a wedding, a move, etc.), do not worry.

It only becomes a problem when the lack of sleep becomes the rule rather than the exception.

Insomnia affects a large portion of the world’s population. And it shows up both in the evening, at bedtime, and early in the morning (one may wake up and not be able to fall asleep again).

It is divided according to duration:

Acute if it lasts less than a month
Subacute if it lasts between four and six weeks
Chronic if it lasts longer than half a year and is still not resolved

There are many causes of insomnia. However, it is mainly due to psychological changes, such as stress, anxiety and depression. For some people, it is due to hormonal imbalance. It can also be caused by problems with the circadian rhythm (which regulates when you sleep and wake up).

However, insomnia can be caused by other factors such as:

Poor sleeping environment

Irregular sleeping habits

Great meals

Stimulants (eg coffee, tea, medicine)

That said, there are people who experience insomnia after surgery. It can also be due to abstinence from alcohol, PTSD or side effects from medication.

How can insomnia be controlled?

We can prevent this problem from occurring. And we can prevent it from becoming chronic if we have healthy habits;

Take no stimulants in the evening
Eat light dinner
Exercises until evening
Check the environment in the room. Reduce light and sound
Have a routine for when you go to bed and when you get up
Keep TV and smartphone out of the bedroom

Avoid long naps

Sleep is fundamental to the body. This is because it repairs and rebuilds your body. Furthermore, the temperature regulates and prepares the body for the next day’s activities.

Thus, insomnia can have many negative consequences. Among these, the following stand out:

Problems with concentration, memory and orientation
Traffic or work accidents
Irritability, depression, bad mood
Existential crisis

What types of insomnia are there?

The different types of insomnia are divided into three main groups; they depend on duration, intensity and time period.

Passing or acute

This is when the disorder lasts for a maximum of four weeks. It can e.g. due to altered sleep rhythm due to work or geographical location (also known as jet lag).

These types of insomnia can also be caused by other things. These include stress, personal problems, too much coffee or tea etc.

Short-term or subacute

This type lasts between four and six weeks. It is very common in people who have been in an accident or lost someone they loved.

It is also a very typical consequence of PTSD.

Long-term or chronic

This type lasts longer than three months. And it can continue until the problem is addressed. In most cases, it is due to chronic physical or mental illness.

Also read: What is generalized anxiety disorder?

Easy

This is the most common sleep problem. This does not have consequences that are negative for the person’s quality of life.

If you have not been able to fall asleep, you wake up the next day and may be tired and nauseous. But it poses no health risk.

Moderate

As insomnia becomes more frequent, the consequences become more visible and severe.

The daily deterioration in quality of life is related to several things; It includes irritability, anxiety and lack of success in the workplace.

It is normal to be in a bad mood. And people who suffer from this type also have problems with concentration.

Difficult

In this case, the sleep problem is a greater intensity. And it affects, remarkably, the person who is affected.

They cannot manage their daily activities. This is because they do not have enough energy to stand out of bed at all.

In addition, their mood swings are more irregular. One can take medication or certain drugs to reverse the situation.

When falling asleep

It feels like we can not fall asleep. This is characterized by difficulty calling in sleep until early in the morning.

No effective methods are found for falling asleep (counting sheep, reading, meditating, listening to music, etc.).

Often this kind of insomnia is due to anxiety or problems. It does not let the brain relax enough.

Also read: Therefore, it is healthy for your brain to read in the evening

Problems sleeping through

In this case, the problem starts during the early morning hours. Although you may well fall asleep in the evening, you wake up at night. And one can not fall asleep again.

Here's how to put one together for use with your morning routine.

You can also wake up several times a night.

Late at night

This is characterized by waking up early. In this case, you wake up before the alarm clock rings.

One of the reasons may be that the room is not dark enough. Maybe you wake up at the first rays of the sun. It can also be due to expectations e.g. due to an upcoming, important event.