Types of Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which a person experiences inadequate or poor-quality sleep.

Types of Insomnia

Transient or Mild Insomnia

Transient insomnia is a disturbance in sleeping patterns which lasts for a few nights only; there is little or no evidence of impairment of functioning during the day.

Short-term or Moderate Insomnia

It shows sleep difficulties that last for less than a month or hardly a month, that mildly affect functioning during the day, together with feelings of irritability and fatigue

Chronic or Severe Insomnia

Chronic insomnia is the rarest and most serious type. In spite of this, 10-15% of the US population suffers from it. It shows sleep difficulties that last for more than a month, that severely impair functioning during the day, and cause strong feelings of restlessness, irritability, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and may result in serious consequences.

Beside these three basic kinds of insomnia here is a detailed categorization of different kinds insomnia which can give you a clear idea of what type of insomnia you are suffering from, if you are an insomniac.

Sleep Onset Insomnia (Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome)

It is a disorder in which the major sleep episode is delayed in relation sleep timings that results in symptoms of sleep onset insomnia or difficulty in awakening at the required time.

Idiopathic Insomnia

This type of insomnia is characterized by a lifelong inability to obtain adequate sleep that is presumably due to an abnormality of the neurological control of the sleep-wake system. This insomnia is long-standing, commonly begins in early childhood, sometimes since birth.

Childhood Insomnia (Limit-Setting Sleep Disorder)

This occurs during childhood. It is characterized by the inadequate enforcement of bedtimes by a caretaker or the childâ€™s refusal to go to bed at the appropriate time or by other disturbing factors.

Food Allergy Insomnia

It happens due to an allergic response to food allergens. Many a times; it is typically associated with the introduction of a new food or drink.

Environmental Insomnia (Environmental Sleep Disorder)

It happens due to a disturbing environmental factor that causes a complaint of either insomnia or excessive sleepiness.

Altitude Insomnia

An acute (short and sharp course, not chronic) insomnia usually accompanied by headaches, loss of appetite, and fatigue, that occurs following ascent to high altitudes.

Hypnotic Dependency Insomnia (Hypnotic-Dependent Sleep Disorder)

Characterized by insomnia or excessive sleepiness that is associated with tolerance to or withdrawal from hypnotic medications.

Stimulant Dependent Sleep Disorder

It is particularly associated with a reduction of sleepiness or suppression of sleep by central stimulants, and resultant alterations in wakefulness following drug abstinence.

Alcohol Dependent Insomnia (Alcohol-Dependent Sleep Disorder)

It is characterized by the assisted initiation of sleep onset by the sustained ingestion of alcohol that is used for its hypnotic effect.

Toxin Induced Sleep Disorder

Characterized by either insomnia or excessive sleepiness produced by poisoning with heavy metals or organic toxins.