Sleepness is known as Insomnia. Sleep is basic need. Like breathing and eating, we need sleep in order to survive. Adults need about 7 to 8 hours (but it ranges from 6 to 9 hours) of sleep. Individuals can be divided into short sleepers and long sleepers. The amount of sleep that one needs is that which is sufficient for a person to awaken feeling refreshed and to function optimally during the day.
Sleep complaints include excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, abnormal movements, or behavior during sleep, and inability to sleep at the desired time. Insomnia is a very common problem.
Sleep is mainly divided into two states
- Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) is further divided into three states mainly N1 N2 and N3.
- Rapid eye movement (REM) is characterized by rapid eye movements.
What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is simply a complaint about a lack of sleep. It includes various things like difficulty with sleep initiation, duration, quality despite adequate opportunity and circumstances for sleep. This results in poor productivity in the daytime.
Insomnia can be seen with the following symptoms-
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Unrefreshing sleep is also known as Non-Restorative Sleep.
- Waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep.
- Waking up too early in the morning.
Insomnia can lead to further problems like–
- Anxiety disorder
- Depression
- Difficult concentration
- Difficulty in coordination
- Effect on the immune system
- High blood pressure
- Irritability.
- Lack of energy
- Obesity
- Risk of diabetes
- Risk of heart disease
- slowed reaction time
- Tiredness
Gastroesophageal reflux and musculoskeletal pains can be seen in adults. In children, some medical and psychological problems like obesity, failure to thrive, bed wetting are seen. Other conditions which are seen in children are–
- Difficulty in reading
- Hyperactivity
- Learning difficulties
- Mood disturbances
- Nightmares
- Poor academic performance
- Problems with maintaining attention
- Tooth-grinding
Insomnia classification
- Short (transient)-lasting from a single night to a few weeks.
- On and off (intermittent)- if episodes of transient insomnia occur from time to time.
- Constant (chronic)- It occurs on most nights and lasts a month or more.
Types of Insomnia
Various types of insomnia are as follows
Psychophysiological Insomnia– This condition must last for one month to be said as Psychophysiological Insomnia. This is caused when a person not fall asleep when planned. The person has no difficulty falling asleep when sleep is not planned, but at the normal bedtime and during planned naps, sleep onset is difficult to achieve.
Idiopathic insomnia– This is the most serious type of insomnia. It is also called “life-long insomnia. It can be easily at infancy or early childhood and can be seen throughout the patient’s life. There is no external cause of this condition.
Paradoxical Insomnia– This is also known as “sleep state misperception. Here patient complaint of insomnia without any actual evidence of insomnia. Patient complaints of lack of sleep but actually
Sleep was achieved. In some cases, the patient may have had a normal sleep efficiency, but still insists that he or she could not sleep at all.
In this condition, a physician may suggest to maintain a sleep diary in patient can see abnormalities in their own sleep habits, such as irregular bedtimes, or daytime naps that may affect the sleep schedule at night.
Inadequate Sleep Hygiene– Sleep hygiene refers to habits that are healthy for one’s sleep. Inadequate sleep hygiene is basically a set of habits or practices that are bad for a person’s sleep.
Sleep Hygiene Techniques
Sleep hygiene techniques are really good for good sleep. It includes-
- Avoid drinking alcohol
- Avoid smoking
- Avoid unnecessary stress when possible
- Avoid the use of caffeine for six hours before bedtime
- Block out light and noise as much as possible from the bedroom
- Do not exercise heavily within four hours of bedtime
- Don’t use sleeping pills indiscrimately, Always use sleeping pills under the guidance of physician
- Eat a healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Get up at the same time every day
- Go to bed only when tired
- If you must nap, do it at the same time every day
- Maintain a regular schedule
- Make the bedroom a clean, comfortable, relaxing environment
- Switch off the use of a computer, tv, or phones one hour before the time of going to bed
Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood– It is also called a limit-setting disorder. This condition is also due to inadequate sleep hygiene is seen in children or infants. This sleep hygiene practices are especially advised for children like-
- Do not let the child sleep alone instead of the parent’s arm
- Not put toys or other distractions in the crib or near the bed
- Sometimes a normal, healthy bedtime routine can be recommended, such as reading for a short period of time
Reasons of Insomniya
Insomnia due to mental disorder
This condition arises as a result of mental illness, and this may persists for at least one month. The common conditions are depression and anxiety disorders. These conditions are very much interlinked with each other. So it is rather difficult to treat.
Insomnia due to Medical condition- It can result in either short-term or long-term insomnia. This condition may arise as a result of pain or discomfort. This condition is mainly seen in elderly but can also be seen at any age.
Insomnia due to Drug or Substance
This may arise as a result of abuse or withdrawal. The substances which may cause insomnia are mainly alcohol, hypnotic drugs, sedatives, stimulants, and use of opiates. These all drugs causes change or disturbance in sleep.
Alcohol– cause decreased sleep latency
- Cause sleep fragmentation
- Increases chances of nightmares
- Increases number of times of arousal
- Increases slow wave sleep
- It may even cause upper airway obstructions
- Reduced rapid eye movement sleep
- Reduced wakefulness
Medicines that cause insomnia are as follows-
- Adrenocorticotropic hormones
- Alpha methyldopa
- Antimetabolites
- Beta blockers
- Bronchodilators
- Calcium blockers
- Corticosteriods
- Diphenylhydantoin
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- Oral contraceptives
- Recongestants
- Stimulants
- Stimulating tricyclics
- Thiazides.
- Thyroid hormones
Other disorders causes include arthritis, kidney disease, heart failure, asthma, restless legs syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, and hyperthyroidism.
Certain personalities may also have a problem with insomnia like–
- Drinking alcohol before bedtime.
- Excessive napping in the afternoon or evening
- Irregular or continually disrupted sleep/wake schedules.
- Smoking cigarettes before bedtime
- Those who expect to have difficulty sleeping and worrying about it
Short-term Insomnia Disorder– It is also known as adjustment insomnia and acute insomnia as it is of short duration. This is a very common condition. It includes difficulty in the beginning or maintaining sleep for a night or two. This condition may arise as a result of-
- Anticipation
- Changes in altitude
- Changes in sleep schedules
- Changes in time zones
- Death of loved one
- Excitement
- Illness
- Light
- Natural disaster
- Noise
- Pain
- Side effect to medications
- Stress
The characteristic feature of this type of insomnia is that if the trigger factor is removed the condition can be improved.
Homeopathic Medicine for Treatment of Insomnia
1- Cimicifuga racemosa
This remedy is especially for drunkards, habitual opium eaters who try to break the evil habit, for sufferers from the ill effects of muscular strain. The patient feels extreme weakness whit pain in the head going to the neck or spreading over the shoulders. This remedy is also given for mental depression which causes distress in the whole body with great restlessness the whole night. This can be given for those patients who imagine strange objects in the room, under the bed. Because of this patient cannot sleep. He feels no sensation all over his body. It can be given for condition when jerking starts on the side on which the patient is lying, he must change position. It can be given to children who wake suddenly at night terrified and trembling, covered with cold, clammy sweat. It is especially suited for hysterical women who suffer from the disease of the ovaries and uterus.
Dosage- 30 potency twice, 4 pills a day for 5 days.
2- Gelesemium
This is good remedy when person has insomnia from bad or exciting news, from fright, from the anticipation of an unusual thing, from some ovarian disease, from fevers, from spinal complaints. It can also be given when insomnia is seen during pregnancy or after labour. Patient has sleeplessness from mental overwork . This result is loss of energy. Because of this patient is quiet, dull and stupid. It can be given when patient is on the verge of dropping to sleep and then becomes again wide awake or lies in a half-waking state, with complaints of excessive talking. This can also be given for patient who are indulged in use of tobacco.
Dosage- 30 potency,4 pills once a day for 15 days.
3- Aconite
It is given in cases of sleeplessness after midnight. Patient has anxiety, with restlessness and he tosses in bed. Patient eyes are closed but he feels great fear, fright, anxiety. He has vivid dreams. It can be given when a patient has sleeplessness from a nervous fear that he was not going to sleep. It can also be given for sleeplessness of infants and of the aged.
Dosage- 30 potency,4 pills once a day for 15 days.
4- Nux vomica
This remedy can be given when a patient has sleeplessness which is caused by excessive study late at night and no exercise in the daytime. Hence it is also known as dyspeptic insomnia. The patient awakes tired and usually has unrefreshing sleep. It can be given when a patient has only short morning sleep with a headache, bitter taste in the mouth. This remedy can be given when patient has insomnia along with stomach complaints like flatulence, constipation.
Dosage- 30 potency one dose,4 pills daily at night for a week
5- Chamomilla
It can be given to children who have sleeplessness with pain in stomach and because of this child screams. He has restless sleep. Pain is so severe that he cries out and tosses in bed during sleep with hot sweat. Child always want to be carried out. Child always want to be in motion.
Dosage- 30 potency one dose,4 pills daily at night for a week