Insomnia: Types, Causes, and Diagnosis in NY

There are two distinct types of insomnia. They are:

Short-Term. This is a brief period of time where you may experience difficulty sleeping, most often caused by stressful life events. It lasts for less than three months and generally resolves on its own with time and as those high levels of stress begin to decline and stabilize.

Chronic. Chronic insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep on a consistent basis. To be diagnosed as a chronic insomniac, a person must experience poor quality sleep a minimum of three nights a week for a period of three months or longer. This type of insomnia can be tied to stressful life events, fluctuating sleep schedules, underlying medical conditions, inadequate sleep hygiene, coinciding sleep disorders, or external environmental factors.

Insomnia can be the primary condition, or it can also be the result of another coinciding problem. It’s important to talk to a medical healthcare professional that can give you a comprehensive examination to assess all the potential factors that may be contributing to your poor sleep quality.

The most common causes of short-term and long-term insomnia are:

– Stress
– Fluctuating work schedules
– Consistent travel between different time zones
– Periodic or long-term pain 
– Poor sleep habits
– Poor eating habits
– Mental health disorders, such as anxiety or depression
– Prescribed and/or over-the-counter medications
– Medical conditions, such as acid reflux, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s, etc.
– Sleep-related ailments, such as restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea
– High caffeine/stimulant intake
– Getting older

There may be one specific factor causing your insomnia or there may be multiple working in combination with each other. Your health care provider will be able to help you assess what is causing your sleep disturbances, as well as rule out any potential contributors for a more accurate and well-rounded diagnosis.

Your medical practitioner will be able to diagnose insomnia by completing a full examination, including a physical exam and a detailed review of your sleep habits and symptoms. If the root cause of your insomnia is still unclear, they will likely send you to a sleep clinic to be assessed by a medical sleep specialist.

Your general practitioner may consider diagnosing you with insomnia if you are suffering from one or more of the following symptoms:

Difficulty falling asleep
Trouble staying asleep
Consistently waking up in the night
Regularly not feeling well-rested after your sleep 
Excessive daytime tiredness or sleepiness
Higher levels of irritability
Increased levels of anxiety and/or depression, resulting in restlessness at night
Difficulty focusing during your waking hours
Compromised concentration, resulting in more mistakes or errors
Anxiety about trying to fall asleep or not sleeping enough

If poor quality sleep is something that you’re experiencing on a consistent basis, or if it’s affecting your day-to-day life, book in to see your doctor as soon as possible. While some types of insomnia may resolve on their own, other types can only be treated by working with a medical sleep care professional. 

Insomnia can be treated by utilizing a variety of strategies that range from self-care practices, to behavioural therapies, to stress-management work, to certain medications or sleep aids. By working with a sleep care-specialist, you can identify which treatment method, or combination of treatment methods, will work best for you.  

Treatment for insomnia may include the following:

– Cognitive behavioral therapy to minimize internal and external stressors
– Utilizing relaxation techniques
– Optimizing your sleep schedule and nighttime routines
– Changing medications that may be causing insomnia
– Utilizing noise-cancelling equipment or sound machines
– Light therapy
– Prescription medications
– Over-the-counter sleep aides

Your treatment plan should be designed with your unique situation in mind and should always been discussed with your medical care provider. At Marcellus Wellness and Addiction Services, we understand that poor quality sleep can affect your moods, and your life, negatively. Our team of medical sleep specialists can help you determine the cause of your insomnia and get you back to sleeping restfully through the night. For more information, reach out today. A good night’s sleep is only an appointment away! We serve patients from Rockville Centre NY, Brooklyn NY, Queens NY, Staten Island NY, Manhattan NY, Bronx NY, and surrounding areas.