Do I Have Insomnia?

Mind is All

While cinema and even literature have over-dramatized the idea of insomnia over the years, many people just plain want to know: Do I have insomnia myself? Because art has a heavy-handed influence on the perceptions of society, many believe that insomnia is a horrible sickness or disease. Insomnia, however, is actually not a sickness or disease at all - it is simply a symptom or sign of other diseases.

Put plainly, one has insomnia if they have difficulty falling asleep or difficulty remaining asleep. The severity of insomnia can vary from case to case; for some, it might simply make sleep more difficult, while for others it may prevent sleep altogether; this should be considered when deciding whether to seek medical attention. For instance, it might not be worth the time and effort of seeking medical treatment if you toss and turn a bit before falling asleep, but then sleep soundly throughout the rest of the night without any troubles. This delay of sleep - or "light insomnia" - might be brought on by something as simple as stress or uptightness. Once you solve the stress itself, you will find that the insomnia goes away.

On the other hand, you might be dealing with a severe case of insomnia, where you have a hard time sleeping through the night (or are completely unable to sleep) even when your body is tired and totally sleep-deprived. Consider seeking medical assistance if you are experiencing such a situation, where you are unable to sleep through the night or to fall asleep at all, even when your body is immensely tired.

Insomnia can be a symptom of any number of disorders, many of them dealing with mind- or muscle-related issues. Medication is another common cause of insomnia.

Insomnia can be kept at bay by using any number of prescribed drugs, or it can be removed entirely by curing the disease that is causing the insomnia. If you are suffering from a severe case of insomnia, visit a medical doctor - they can help you find out the disease causing this insomnia, and in this way they can help you solve the problem.