Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty in falling or staying asleep. People with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
- Waking up too early in the morning
- Feeling tired upon waking
Types of Insomnia: There are two types of insomnia: primary insomnia and secondary insomnia.
Primary insomnia: Primary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems that are not directly associated with any other health condition or problem.
Secondary insomnia: Secondary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems because of some health conditions (like asthma, depression, arthritis, cancer, or heartburn); pain; medication they are taking; or a substance they are using (like alcohol).
Acute vs. Chronic Insomnia
Insomnia also varies in how long it lasts and how often it occurs. It can be short-term (acute insomnia) or can last a long time (chronic insomnia). It can also come and go, with periods of time when a person has no sleep problems. Acute insomnia can last from one night to a few weeks. Insomnia is called chronic when a person has insomnia at least three nights a week for three months or longer.
Causes of Insomnia
Causes of acute insomnia can include:
- stress (job loss or change, death of a loved one, divorce, moving)
- Illness
- Emotional or physical discomfort
- Environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that interfere with sleep
- Some medications (for example those used to treat colds, allergies, depression, high blood pressure, and asthma) may interfere with sleep Interferences in normal sleep schedule (jet lag or switching from a day to night shift, for example)
Causes of chronic insomnia include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Chronic stress
- Pain or discomfort at night.
Symptoms of Insomnia include:
- Sleepiness during the day
- General tiredness
- Irritability
- Problems with concentration or memory
Diagnosing Insomnia
An evaluation may include a physical exam, a medical history, and a sleep history. You may be asked to keep a sleep diary for a week or two, keeping track of your sleep patterns and how you feel during the day.
Treatment for Insomnia
Acute insomnia may not require treatment. Mild insomnia often can be prevented or cured by practicing good sleep habits.
Avoid using sleeping pills for insomnia, because they may have undesired side effects and tend to lose their effectiveness over time.
Treatment for chronic insomnia includes first treating any underlying conditions or health problems that are causing the insomnia. If insomnia continues,
Behavioral approaches help you to change behaviors that may worsen insomnia and to learn new behaviors to promote sleep. Techniques such as relaxation exercises, sleep restriction therapy, and reconditioning may be useful.
Good Sleep Habits for Beating Insomnia
Good sleep habits, also called sleep hygiene, can help you get a good night's sleep and beat insomnia. Here are some tips:
- Try to go to sleep at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning.
- Try not to take naps during the day, because naps may make you less sleepy at night.
- Avoid prolonged use of phones or reading devices that give off light before bed. This can make it harder to fall asleep.
- Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol late in the day. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants and can keep you from falling asleep. Alcohol can cause waking in the night and interferes with sleep quality.
- Get regular exercise. Try not to exercise close to bedtime, because it may stimulate you and make it hard to fall asleep. Experts suggest not exercising for at least three to four hours before the time you go to sleep.
- Don't eat a heavy meal late in the day. A light snack before bedtime, however, may help you sleep.
- Make your bedroom comfortable. Be sure that it is dark, quiet, and not too warm or too cold. If light is a problem, try a sleeping mask. If noise is a problem, try earplugs, a fan, or a "white noise" machine to cover up the sounds.
- Follow a routine to help you relax before sleep. Read a book, listen to music, or take a bath.
- If you can't fall asleep and don't feel drowsy, get up and read or do something that is not overly stimulating until you feel sleepy.
- If you find yourself lying awake worrying about things, try making a to-do list before you go to bed. This may help you to not focus on those worries overnight.
Homeopathic medicine for insomnia
Homeopathy can often make a big difference to insomniacs. The approach is to consider the sleep disturbance as part of the overall clinical picture. There is no such thing as a homeopathic sleep-ing-tablet, just as there is no such thing as a homeopathic painkiller. The well-selected remedy, if it includes the pattern of the sleep disturbance, may solve the problem.
Aconite anxious dreams. They may fear sleep; feel that they might not wake up, so sleep could take on the spectre of death. Arsenicum album may help the restless, meticulous type of person who cannot get off to sleep because they have to get everything ordered in their mind.
Disturbed anxious. Dreams full of care and fear. Sleeping sickness.
Coffea sleepless on account mental activity with its heightened sensitivity and inability to get into the deeper stages of sleep.
Asarum also helps when any noise wakens the sleeper, especially if they have great sensitivity to any noise during the day.
Nux vomica Insomnia after over-indulgence in stimulants, food, drink or after overexerting.
Alumina those people who seem to wake frequently, and who may find that they lie awake for an hour or so before getting off again.
Hepar sulph one of the most sensitive person who wakes if a toe or foot somehow gets exposed in the night.
Ignatia is useful in people who experience insomnia after a loss of some sort. They may sigh and yawn a lot, yet find sleep difficult to come, and find it fitful at best.
Zincum metallicum nervous type of person prone to twitchy feet and restless legs.
Silicea wakes up suddenly, usually from an anxiety dream, feeling hot with a sweaty head.
Belladona bad dreams waken the sleeper and prevent further sleep.
China people who sleep lightly and who “day dream” a lot.
Lycopodium unrefreshing sleep associated with an inability to recall dreams, especially if they get accompanying digestive troubles.
Passiflora incarnata Restless and wakeful, resulting from exhaustion, mentally worried and overworked.
Eschscholtzia Act more powerfully than morphine.
Dr. Rajneesh's Homoeopathy: Facilities -True Homoeopathy consultation, Laboratory, Yoga, Physiotherapy, Needle therapy (accupuncture), skin laser treatment.
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