Types of Insomnia

Insomnia can be differentiated into the following types –

• Acute InsomniaAcute insomnia is short-term insomnia that can last from a few days to a few weeks. It’s the most common type of insomnia. Acute insomnia is also referred to as adjustment insomnia because it typically occurs when you experience a stressful event, such as the death of a loved one or starting a new job. Often, acute insomnia is the result of stress, and once the event causing stress passes, you should be able to sleep better. However, acute insomnia can still affect other areas of your life, and it's important to know how to treat your sleep troubles and get through it.
• Chronic InsomniaInsomnia is considered chronic if you have trouble sleeping at least three days per week for at least one month. Chronic Insomnia can be primary or secondary. Primary chronic insomnia, which is also called idiopathic insomnia, doesn’t have an obvious cause or underlying medical condition. Secondary insomnia, also called comorbid insomnia, is more common. It’s chronic insomnia that occurs with another condition.
• Onset Insomnia Onset insomnia is trouble initiating sleep. This type of insomnia can be short term or chronic. Any of the causes of acute and chronic insomnia can make it difficult to fall asleep. Psychological or psychiatric issues are the most common causes. These include stress, anxiety, or depression. Caffeine and other stimulants can also prevent you from falling asleep.
• Maintenance InsomniaMaintenance insomnia is difficulty staying asleep or waking up too early and having trouble getting back to sleep. This type of insomnia causes you to worry about not being able to fall back asleep and not getting enough sleep. This interferes with sleep further, creating a vicious cycle. Maintenance insomnia can be caused by mental health conditions, such as depression. Other medical conditions that can cause you to wake up include:
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
  • Asthma and other respiratory conditions
  • Restless leg syndrome
  • Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
• Behavioural Insomnia of ChildhoodBehavioural insomnia of childhood affects approximately 25% trusted source of children. It’s divided into three subtypes:
• ⦁ Behavioural Insomnia of Childhood Sleep-onset. This type results from negative associations with sleep, such as learning to go to sleep by being rocked or nursed. They may also include having a parent present or watching TV while falling asleep.
• Behavioural Insomnia of Childhood Limit-setting.  This type of BIC involves a child’s refusal to go to bed and repeated attempts to put off going to sleep. Examples of this behaviour are asking for a drink, to go to the bathroom, or for a parent to read them another story.
• Behavioural Insomnia of Childhood Combined type. This form is a combination of the other two subtypes of BIC. This occurs when a child has a negative association with sleep and resists going to bed because of a lack of limit-setting by a parent or caretaker.

Behavioural Insomnia of Childhood can usually be resolved with a few behavioural changes, such as creating a healthy sleep routine or learning self-soothing or relaxation techniques.