At least sometime during the previous year, one in three adults has had trouble falling or staying asleep during the night, or waking up too early in the morning. This condition, known as insomnia, affects people of all ages and may lead to irritability, excessive daytime sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep, or depression.
Chronic Insomnia, that which lasts for months or years, is typically a symptom of an underlying disorder. Most sleep physicians agree that it is a serious condition, and persons experiencing Chronic Insomnia should seek appropriate medical attention.
Insomnia that lasts for a few days or weeks is often caused by stress or excitement and is usually self-limiting. However, if acute insomina is debilitating, it can be successfully treated with hypnotics. Importantly, without resolution of the acute insomnia or without proper treatment, it can become conditioned insomnia, a chronic disorder.
Conditioned Insomnia can begin with any acute insomnia, but persists and worsens because the patient starts to feel apprehensive about falling asleep. Most patients can return to normal sleep patterns after implementing good sleep habits and/or relaxation techniques. However, in some cases, attending physicians can prescribe hypnotics for a short period of time in order to reduce anxiety and reestablish confidence.
