Insomnia is a sleep disorder that thousands of people deal with each and every night.  Though nearly everyone is familiar with the concept of insomnia, most people do not realize that there are actually different types of insomnia that a person may suffer from.  These include:

 

 

• Transient insomnia

• Acute insomnia

• Chronic insomnia

Each of these forms of insomnia involve an inability to sleep, but the exact problems the insomniac suffers from will vary slightly according to the type of insomnia he or she has.

 

Transient Insomnia

 

Transient insomnia, which is also referred to as intermittent insomnia, is a form of insomnia that affects the person for just one night or for a few weeks and then goes away.  This form of insomnia is generally triggered by specific events, such as experiencing short term anxiety or jet lag.  It is not uncommon for a person to experience transient insomnia on occasion.

 

Acute Insomnia

 

When a person suffers from acute insomnia, he or she is unable to sleep for anywhere from three weeks to six months.  This form of insomnia comes on suddenly and will eventually go away.

 

Chronic Insomnia

 

A person suffering from chronic insomnia consistently has difficulty with falling asleep.  As such, it is considered to be the most serious form of insomnia.  In order to be classified as having chronic insomnia, the person must have difficulty getting to sleep nearly every night for at least one month.

 

Differentiating Between Insomnia and Poor Sleep

 

Many people that experience poor sleep quality mistakenly believe that they are suffering from insomnia.  The two issues are actually separate.  In addition, poor sleep quality is often brought on by other factors, such as major depression or sleep apnea.  In both cases, if the underlying issue is resolved, the quality of sleep can be improved. 

 

On a scientific basis, a person is said to have poor sleep quality if he or she fails to reach stage 4, or delta sleep.  In the case of a person with sleep apnea, the inability to reach this stage is largely the result of waking up during the night because breathing is interrupted.  Even though the person may not realize that he or she is waking up during the night, the continual interruption of sleep results in poor sleep quality.  Consequently, the person may experience difficulty with concentration and memory.

 

Major depression can also interrupt sleep because depression causes excessive cortisol to be released.  As a result, the person’s sleep may become interrupted and the depression is only further exacerbated.

 

Whether suffering from insomnia or poor sleep quality, it is important to seek the help of a medical professional.  Certain medications can be prescribed in order to help an insomniac get to sleep and stay to sleep, though long term use of these medications is not recommended.  Similarly, a person suffering from sleep apnea or depression can receive medical assistance to help overcome these problems.  By getting these health issues under control, the person can experience a higher quality of sleep.