Types of Insomnia: How to Tell Them Apart and How to Treat Them?

 

Different types of insomnia

There are several types of insomnia. Each variety is distinguished by the length of time it lasts, how it impacts your sleep, and the underlying cause.

Acute insomnia

Acute insomnia is defined as short-term insomnia lasting a few days to a few weeks. It is the most prevalent type of insomnia. Acute insomnia is also known as adjustment insomnia because it usually happens after a traumatic event, such as the death of a loved one or the start of a new career.

Aside from stress, environmental factors that disrupt your sleep, such as noise or light, sleeping in unfamiliar bed or surroundings, such as a hotel or new home, physical discomfort, such as pain or inability to assume a comfortable position, certain medications, illness, and jet lag, can all contribute to acute insomnia.

Chronic insomnia

Chronic insomnia is defined as difficulty sleeping at least three days per week for at least one month.

Chronic insomnia can be either primary or secondary in nature. Primary persistent insomnia, also known as idiopathic insomnia, has no clear aetiology or underlying medical issue.

Secondary insomnia, also known as comorbid insomnia, is more prevalent. Chronic insomnia is a complication of another illness.

 Onset insomnia

Onset insomnia is difficulty falling asleep. Insomnia of this type might be acute or chronic. Any of the reasons of acute and chronic insomnia might make falling asleep difficult. The most common causes are psychological or mental disorders. Stress, anxiety, and depression are examples of these.

People with chronic onset insomnia are more likely to have another sleep condition, such as restless leg syndrome or periodic limb movement disorder, according to a 2009 study. Caffeine and other stimulants might also make it difficult to sleep.

 Maintenance insomnia

Maintenance insomnia is defined as difficulties falling asleep or waking up too early and having difficulty falling back asleep. This sort of insomnia causes you to be concerned about not being able to fall asleep again and hence not getting enough sleep. This further disrupts sleep, producing a vicious cycle. Mental health problems such as depression can cause maintenance insomnia.

 Mixed Insomnia

 Though not a formal term, the descriptor mixed insomnia may be used to describe people who have problems with sleep onset, sleep maintenance, and early morning awakenings.

Because it is normal for people to have overlapping sleeping problems, the larger term insomnia can be conceived of as describing mixed insomnia. Furthermore, patients who suffer from insomnia frequently report that their symptoms change over time4, making it difficult to categorise insomnia rigorously into the subtypes of onset, maintenance, and early morning awakenings.

 Insomnia risks and side effects

Insomnia can have a variety of hazards and adverse effects on your mental and physical health, as well as your ability to operate.

Insomnia risks and side effects include lower work or school performance, an increased chance of accidents, an increased risk of depression and other mental health issues, and an increased risk of chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and obesity.

 Chronic insomnia treatment may entail addressing any underlying problem that is causing your insomnia. A doctor may advise you to try cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and sleeping tablets, which has been shown to be more helpful than medicine.