Introduction

Insomnia or Sleeplessness is a condition which is very commonly observed. It is a condition in which a person experiences – trouble in falling or staying asleep; feeling tired on waking; waking too early in the morning or waking up frequently during the night. Insomnia can range from mild to severe form, depending on its duration and frequency.

Insomnia affects people of all age groups and is more common seen in adult women as compared to adult men. Insomnia can give rise to reduced performance at work or school, obesity, depression, poor immune system function, lowered reaction time, and enhanced risk to chronic diseases.

Insomnia can be chronic, acute or transient. In chronic insomnia, insomnia persists for minimum 3 nights in a week or for more than a month. In acute insomnia, the symptoms last for several weeks. Transient insomnia lasts for a few days to a few weeks.

Types

Insomnia can be of two types. They are Primary insomnia and Secondary or co-morbid insomnia. Secondary insomnia results due to a side effect of some other problem. There are a few medical conditions, medicines, sleep disorders, and substances which can give rise to secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia can be due to stress, emotional distress, etc.

Causes

Insomnia can be caused by physical factors or by psychological factors. Some of the causes of insomnia are as follows:-

• Drugs, alcohol, and medicines.
• Disruptions in circadian rhythm.
• Psychological issues.
• Medical conditions.
• Hormones.
• Sleep Apnea.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.
• Mania or Hypomania.
• Sleep disorders.
• Environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures.

Risk groups

There are some groups which may be at higher risk for developing insomnia. They are

• Travelers
• Shift workers with frequent changing of shifts
• Seniors
• Adolescent or young adult students
• Pregnant women
• Menopausal women

Symptoms of Insomnia

There are a few symptoms observed in persons suffering with insomnia which are as follows:-

• Poor concentration.
• Difficulty in focus
• Difficult memory
• Impaired motor coordination
• Irritable
• Impaired social interaction
• Lethargy
• Depression
• Stress and anxiety
• Motor vehicle accidents because of fatigued, sleep-deprived drivers.

Treatment

Lifestyle modifications, reducing intake of stimulants just before bed time, changes in sleeping habits, etc can help you prevent and treat insomnia. Behavioral techniques are practiced which help to promote sleep. Techniques such as relaxation exercises; sleep restriction therapy and reconditioning may be useful.

There are several homeopathic remedies too, which can help in effectively treating insomnia. Homeopathic remedies are helpful during the attacks of insomnia, and can help individuals with longer-standing sleep disorders. Homeopathic treatment of insomnia is based on the underlying condition. There are several diseases which cause insomnia and the homeopathic medicine should be based on the underlying cause. Homoeopathy treats the patient as the whole and aims at treating the disease from the root cause. Hence, it targets the causative factor which is responsible for giving rise to insomnia. Homoeopathy treats insomnia safely and effectively without the production of any adverse effects on the body.