Insomnia: A Nocturnal 'Nightmare'

There are few people who don't experience the symptoms of the condition known as insomnia at least a few times during their lifetimes. The term insomnia refers to that condition in which a person simply cannot sleep or be totally relaxed while in bed. The condition which, if acute insomnia, literally prevents a person from achieving any kind of rest during a period designated for that purpose and lasting for certain periods; or chronic insomnia, which last for longer periods and is usually brought on by stress, health problems, anxiety, etc. Insomnia is often common in people going through an emotional crises or trauma, such as loss of a loved one, dissolution of a marriage or close relationship, extreme stress in work or study, including being fired or let go from a place of employment; moving to a new home or community; and numerous other factors.

People suffering from this condition simply cannot sleep or rest for more than a few moments. Those who work during the night, when most other people are asleep, often complain of symptoms of insomnia due to the fact that their lives have been turned literally "upside down". Ask anyone who had to take a job on the nocturnal or "graveyard shift", and arriving at work at 10 or 11 o'clock at night, whether they have suffered from insomnia for the first few days or weeks until their body gets used to the situation – if at all.

Insomnia, however is not to be confused with sleeping disorders such as inability to breathe properly while asleep, resulting in frequent awakenings or heavy snoring; or by people suffering from urinary problems, including those of the kidneys or prostate gland (in men) resulting in frequent urination during the night. People suffering from these conditions are actually asleep until the symptoms of the condition awaken them.

There are various methods of treating insomnia including medications to help induce sleep; or physical and psychological treatments including sleep therapy, massage, and physical therapy to help relax the muscles as well as the mind. Sleep sedatives are often used, but they can often result of dependence on these preparations which can even lead to addition. These medications are often known as benzodiazepines and can result in people becoming dependant and even addictive to them. Those who do not wish to take these preparations often seek natural sleep inducing preparations that includes warm milk, honey, chamomile and other non-caffeine teas, and tryptophan, a natural sedative derived from a natural amino acid.

Though even natural preparations only help relieve the symptoms of insomnia, finding the true cause of insomnia is the only way to bring permanent relieve of people suffering from this condition. Obtaining the assistance of physicians, psychologists, and also psychiatrists may help discover the underlying problem that causes people to suffer from both chronic and acute insomnia. Depending on the severity of the condition, there may be a lot more involved than just counting sheep.