If a person is not able to sleep for a reasonable amount of time during the night or if he is frequently awoken in the night and can't get back to sleep, he would be considered to have insomnia.
There are many factors that can cause insomnia including things like stress, chemicals, fear, caffeine, medication, and many other influences that may not allow a person to get a full night of rest.
Many people who complain of insomnia often describe symptoms of feeling tired but being unable to sleep or sleep only for minutes at a time.
There are several types of insomnia and they include acute, chronic, and transient insomnia.
Transient insomnia means that the problem is short-lived and can usually work itself out.
Transient insomnia could last just one night up to a couple of weeks but will regularly go away on its own.
Acute insomnia is when someone suffers the symptoms for a short period of time, usually 3 weeks to 6 months.
The chronic form of insomnia is when people suffer from these symptoms on a nightly basis for more than a month and the symptoms are usually recurring each evening.
There are several causes of insomnia, but one of the main causes of insomnia is sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea means that there are periods of not breathing during sleep.
This can cause you to wake frequently and will not allow you to get the full night's rest that is necessary to function throughout the day.
Another cause of the insomnia is called circadian rhythm sleep disorder.
This disorder can cause a person to feel sleepy throughout the day without allowing him a full night's rest during normal sleeping hours.
Parasomnia can include many disorders such as REM disorder, sleep-walking, night terrors, nightmares, and even gastroesophageal reflux disease.
All of these disorders can cause a person to wake during sleeping hours.
There are people who have illnesses such as depression or bipolar disorder that can also contribute to their sleeping problems.
Sometimes the harder a person tries to fall asleep, the worse the problem gets.
Anxiety can become increased and the problem only persists.
Insomnia treatments depend on the symptoms a person exhibits.
Usually there is involvement of a sleeping aid such as a medication to help a person get a full night's rest.
Medications that are frequently used for the treatment of insomnia include midazolam, nitrazepam, lorazepam, diazepam, and temazepam.
People who suffer from depression can sometimes find help with medication such as doxepin, trazodone, and mirtazaphine.
There are natural remedies that can be used and it is all a matter of preference.
Discuss your options with your doctor and learn how to get a good night sleep.