Types of Insomnia and the Symptoms of Insomnia

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Insomnia is a complicated disorder comprised of different levels of insomnia brought on by a multitude of different symptoms. It is generally accepted that insomnia is defined as daytime fatigue and impaired performance as a result of insufficient sleep. People who suffer from insomnia report that despite feeling tired, they still have difficulty getting the sleep they need. Upon awakening, insomnia sufferers often feel abnormally tired and mentally unrested.

Symptoms of Insomnia

While most experts agree that insomnia is a sleep disorder, a fair amount of debate as to whether or not it is a primary sleep disorder of its own still exists. Some feel that lack of sleep is too often caused by another physical or psychological condition, rather than being a disorder with its own identifiable side effects. Some of the most common symptoms of insomnia include:

• fatigue that persists throughout the day
• frequent headaches
• more easily irritated than is typical
• distracted easily, or trouble focusing on the task at hand
• feeling tired instead of refreshed upon waking
• regularly taking longer than 45 minutes to fall asleep
• waking easily and often through the night
• waking before planned or a continuous struggle to fall back asleep once awake
• trouble with falling asleep naturally, without the use of a sleeping aid

The Three Types of Insomnia

Insomnia is often temporary in nature, but the sleeping disorder is still categorized into three major groups: transient insomnia, acute insomnia, and chronic insomnia.

Types of Insomnia: Transient Insomnia
One of the most common forms of insomnia, transient insomnia typically lasts a few days or up to several weeks at a time. Often, the cause of transient insomnia is related to temporary problems such as stress, a change in environment, concerns at work or school, or even the onset of other health problems. Transient insomnia displays the same symptoms as the other two types of insomnia, but will typically go away on its own.

Types of Insomnia: Acute Insomnia
When insomnia lasts for weeks on end, up to six months or more, it may be diagnosed as acute insomnia. This type of insomnia is more persistent than transient insomnia, lasting for weeks on end or even several months at a time. In addition to constant fatigue and the inability to fall asleep, those who are experiencing acute insomnia may also notice a slight to moderate impairment of motor skills, and a lack of mental focus.

Types of Insomnia: Chronic Insomnia
The most severe of the three types of insomnia is chronic insomnia. This type of insomnia can last beyond just a few months, but is experienced over years. It is common for many people diagnosed with chronic insomnia to also have additional health problems. Beyond the milder symptoms of insomnia, chronic insomniacs may also experience bouts with double vision, constant mental fatigue, physical fatigue, and slow motor skills.

Within the diagnosis of chronic insomnia, there exists a diagnosis of primary chronic insomnia and secondary chronic insomnia. Primary chronic insomnia occurs when a lack of sleep is the primary health concern, whereas secondary chronic insomnia is a secondary condition caused by other medical or psychological conditions, or medications. Some examples of the primary conditions that can cause secondary chronic insomnia include sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, Circadian rhythm disorders, severe asthma, or delayed sleep-phase syndrome.

Resources About Symptoms and Types of Insomnia

University of Washington – Seattle Information About the Types of Insomnia
Causes of Insomnia from the University of Maryland
University of Texas – Dallas Insomnia Self-help Center

Resource by AnnaBelle

Annalise Kaylor is a freelance writer, editor, and consultant specializing in search engine optimized content for the web. As a writer, her work has appeared across the United States in print ads for Whirlpool, Maytag, Home Depot, and Lowe's, among others. As a consultant, she has worked primarily in the education sector, helping universities increase their web visibility and construct and implement social media strategy. Annalise is an avid reader, knitter, organic gardener and baker, as well as the author of the popular baking blog, Knead To Be Loaved. Annalise enjoys fly fishing, camping, and hiking.

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