Insomnia

What is insomnia?

Put simply, insomnia is the inability to fall or stay asleep. Repeatedly staying awake until the early hours of the morning or awakening an hour or less after you fall asleep can affect your life and your wellbeing more than you might think. Beyond sleeping troubles themselves, common symptoms of insomnia include:

• Tiredness or fatigue during the day
• Trouble concentrating
• Memory problems
• Lots of accidents and mistakes
• Irritability
• Depression 
• Anxiety

The experts at Florida Sleep Solutions of Jax can help you manage these issues and get consistent, adequate sleep. They may recommend sleep testing to measure your sleep patterns and choose the best course of treatment. 

What are some common causes of insomnia?

Insomnia has an extensive list of possible causes. Your sleeplessness might be due to a short-term circumstance or an ongoing underlying condition. There are two main categories of sleep apnea with different causes and outcomes:

Acute insomnia

Acute insomnia comes from short-term causes like traumatic life events or upcoming exams. It might occur for one or several nights, but it usually goes away without treatment. 

Chronic insomnia

Chronic insomnia is long-term insomnia that occurs at least three nights a week for at least three consecutive months. There are many possible causes, including medications, inconsistent work schedules, poor daytime habits, mental health disorders, medical conditions, and more. Chronic insomnia requires evaluation by a sleep specialist and individualized treatment. 

How is insomnia treated?

Before choosing your treatment plan for insomnia, your provider at Florida Sleep Solutions of Jax asks you questions about your habits, your day-to-day life, and your medical history. They might also perform a physical exam or ask you to participate in a sleep study if the cause of your insomnia isn’t immediately evident. If another condition causes your insomnia, treating that condition can help you sleep. Other treatments for insomnia include:

Lifestyle adjustments

Your provider might recommend altering your lifestyle to be more sleep-friendly. For example, they might suggest adding regular exercise to your routine, avoiding naps, or limiting caffeine during the day. 

Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, sleep restriction, relaxation therapy, and other techniques can help you train your mind and body to fall and stay asleep effectively.

Medications

Your provider might recommend or prescribe sleep aids to use for a short time. However, they’re not a long-term solution for insomnia. 

To find out why you can’t fall asleep or stay asleep at night, call Florida Sleep Solutions of Jax or request an appointment online for insomnia evaluation and treatment today.