What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is the inability to make the transition from the mentally active Beta brain-wave state to the slower frequency wave states of sleep. There are three basic types of insomnia:

Transient Insomnia:
Transient, or intermittent insomnia, lasts only a few days and is usually related to identifiable factors such as acute medical illness, changes in the sleeping environment, self-medication, jet lag and acute or recurring stress from work problems, concerns about health, marital strife, etc.

Short-term Insomnia:
Short-term insomnia is slightly more serious because it persists for about 2-3 weeks. Contributing factors include a job change, divorce, serious illness, financial problems, or the death of a close friend/relative.

Chronic Insomnia:
This is the most serious type, with episodes lasting longer than a few weeks. Approximately 10-15% of the North American population suffers from chronic insomnia. Behavioral insomnia is the classic form of chronic insomnia, with the individual having difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep with a short overall sleep duration - even when they have adequate opportunity for sleep. Individuals with behavioral insomnia, through learned associations, have conditioned themselves to become tense and anxious at the thought of trying to go to sleep, exactly the opposite behavior that is required for rest.