Insomnia is a condition that makes it difficult to fall asleep and/or stay asleep throughout the night. There are a number of different types of insomnia. Some cases are considered chronic, meaning that they last for an extended period of time. In other situations, you may only experience occasional insomnia.
Different Types of Insomnia
Regardless of the specific type of insomnia you have, it is important to understand that missing out on valuable rest has the potential to harm your physical and mental health. If you are struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, then you should contact your insomnia doctor in New York City.
During the diagnostic process, these are the categories of insomnia your doctor may discuss and what they mean.
Acute Insomnia
Acute insomnia is a short-term form of the condition. When you develop acute insomnia you may struggle with sleep for a few days or a few weeks at a time.
This form of insomnia is usually related to temporary stress or a change in environment. If you have ever noticed that it is more difficult to sleep when you are staying in a hotel or at a friend’s house, then you’ve already had an encounter with mild, acute insomnia.
The good news is that acute insomnia usually resolves on its own or with minor environmental changes.
Chronic Insomnia
Chronic insomnia is usually diagnosed if you’re experiencing trouble sleeping at least three times per week for over a month.
This form of insomnia can be related to medications, lifestyle choices, and mental health conditions. While some causes are easy enough to address, you may have to work with a licensed professional to help find long-term solutions for your insomnia.
In the meantime, insomnia treatment in NYC can help you to get the sleep you need to support the changes you need to make for your health.
Onset Insomnia
Onset insomnia is specific to people who struggle to fall asleep but don’t struggle staying asleep. The condition can be acute or chronic. The diagnosis does not refer to the length of time that you have experienced symptoms.
Mental health disorders, such as anxiety or depression, are common causes of onset insomnia. This type of insomnia is often found with other co-occurring sleep disorders.
Maintenance Insomnia
Maintenance insomnia is the other half of insomnia. With maintenance insomnia you may wake up throughout the night or find yourself waking up far earlier than you would like.
As with onset insomnia, maintenance insomnia may be acute or chronic.
More often than not, maintenance insomnia is not directly related to a mental health condition or lifestyle choices. It is usually the result of other physical conditions that disrupt sleep. Common examples include asthma, acid reflux, and sleep apnea.
Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood
This type of insomnia is specific to children. While children can certainly develop other types of insomnia, behavioral insomnia of childhood (BIC) specifically refers to situations where children actively resist sleep.
Their resistance may be due to negative associations or a lack of parental limits. In either case, BIC is directly related to the child’s behavioral patterns that relate to development and learned actions.
Your pediatric sleep specialist can be a valuable asset when dealing with BIC. However, treating the underlying cause may also require the help of a behavioral expert to help reset your child’s associations and expectations.
Treating the Different Types of Insomnia
Regardless of the type of insomnia you or a loved one is experiencing, it’s important to realize that the condition isn’t simply an annoyance.
Prolonged periods without restful sleep do active harm to the brain and body. While you work with specialists to identify the underlying causes of your insomnia, you should also be working with your sleep doctor to treat the immediate effects.
With proper sleep, your brain and your body will be better equipped to handle whatever life throws at them.
