There are multiple types of insomnia, and among all the them, chronic insomnia is a complex condition where patients who have difficulty sleeping consistently for more than a month. The underlying causes are typically physical and mental and therefore the solution requires physical and mental remedies.
The most common cause of chronic insomnia is depression. Other causes of chronic insomnia include other diseases such as heart problems, arthritis, respiratory diseases (such as asthma), kidney problems, sleep apnea, hyperthyroidism, Parkinson’s Disease, and several other conditions. The constant experience of mental stress and the excessive use of stimulants such as caffeine (as found in coffee and tea) all contribute to chronic insomnia.
There are multiple treatment to chronic insomnia which consists of eliminating the underlying medical and psychological disorders after proper diagnosis. Treating behaviors that trigger insomnia are also implemented into the treatment plan in order to stop or minimize the various effects of diagnosed disorders.
For those suffering from chronic insomnia, doctors may prescribe sleeping pills for temporary use, however they are typically not recommended for long-term. Most prescription level sleeping pills are addictive and can further heighten chronic insomnia. In addition, they also serve various side effects, which only contribute to the overall problems experienced by the patient.
Various behavioral techniques are also implemented in order to treat chronic insomnia. Techniques include processes that involve the following:
Reconditioning – A common method of treating insomnia sufferers to restore adequate sleep levels is to condition and associate their sleep with their bed and a proper number of hours of sleep. The technique involves patients refraining from using their bed for any activities that do not involve sleep. So for example, no reading in the bed and no playing cards in bed. The patient is advised to only go to their bed when they are feeling sleep. In addition, taking naps throughout the day is prohibited.
Bright Light – Bright light is a process that helps in re-programming a patient’s biological clock in order to feel sleepy at the time that a patient is looking to schedule sleep to initiate in the night and subsequently waking up at a specific time in the morning by exposure to the bright light. Care must be taken in the implementation of bright light in order to avoid non-expectant results. For example, with exposure to bright light at the wrong time in the evening, the patient will not fall asleep at the right time and will subsequently wake up at the wrong time. A skilled behavior therapist should always be monitor any bright light treatment.
Sleep Restriction – Sleep restriction involves reducing the sleep time of insomniacs in an attempt to force them to get the right amount of sleep at the right time. Therapists have observed that many insomniacs spend time in their bed doing things other than sleeping. By lounging in a relaxed state, the natural urge to sleep is affected. By restricting lounging hours and locations, therapists treat insomnia symptoms by promoting the natural urge for sleep.
Relaxation Therapy – Relaxation therapy treats chronic insomnia by reducing body tension and anxiety. Mental relaxation is typically the key to restful sleep. Effective relaxation therapy requires an investment of time and effort.
If you are experiencing difficulty getting your body to sleep for prolonged periods of time, it is advisable to seek the assistance of a professional to offer chronic insomnia treatment. There is nothing to win by losing sleep continually. Constant sleep deprivation will result in grumpiness, and chronic insomnia results in serious complications in some cases.
Locating chronic insomnia treatment is a challenge at times, especially if you have already treaded the local medical circuit of treatments. If you have already tried other chronic insomnia treatments without any prolonged success, you may be in disbelief that any other treatment would meet success. Additionally, sleeping pills being taken over time will eventually no longer produce the same desired effects. When this is the situation, it is time to search for a permanent and longer term treatment.
Doctors commonly prescribe certain types of drugs for chronic insomnia treatment. Over a period of time, some drugs offer very good effects as chronic insomnia treatment. However, those same drugs over a prolonged period of time may offer some adverse side effects. For example, certain drugs are addictive and can cause you to become dependant on them and your body will get to the point of not being able to sleep without the drug to induce your sleep. This dependency could be very dangerous and can lead to substance abuse.
For those who are on pharmaceutical drug treatments to treat their chronic insomnia, make certain that your doctor is visited regularly and is actively monitoring your condition as it relates to your drug intake. If there are ever any changes in the way your body responds to the drug that you have been prescribed, you should be in the habit of communicating that to your doctor. If ever the dosage that you have been prescribed is not delivering the desired effects, never increase your dosage without consulting your doctor first. It is very important to keep the lines of communication open with your doctor in order to avoid chemical dependencies.
Never attempt self-medication or alter your dosages on your own. If medication is not longer effective, there are many considerations that need to be made prior to altering any aspect of your medical treatment. There are many serious problems that could result from even the smallest altering of dosage or medication details. Some altering could even counter the intended effects of insomnia.
There are instances when chronic insomnia sufferers could opt to switch to natural chronic insomnia treatments. Many physicians will tell you that different bodies respond differently to the same treatment. Furthermore, the same body will respond differently to the different treatments. Nearly all chronic insomnia cases will need to experiment with different treatments before finding the perfect remedy for their particular case. All in all, it is important to remember that in some cases, when conventional medical products become ineffective, there is no need to lose hope for a remedy; there is a chance that natural treatments may be effective.
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