Insomnia Support Group

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a symptom, rather than a disease, and is characterized by inadequate quantity or quality of sleep. People with insomnia complain of difficulty falling or staying asleep, which results in significant impairment of daytime functioning. Insomnia is categorized as transient (shorter than one week), short-term (one to three weeks) or chronic (longer than three weeks). Insomnia frequently interferes with interpersonal relationships or job performance and sufferers often seek support from mental health and medical professionals.

Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in the United States, experienced by approximately one-third of the adult population at some point. It is a persistent problem in ten percent, and this group requires the greatest support. The prevalence of insomnia increases with age, and symptoms are more common in women than in men.

Causes of Insomnia

Insomnia can result from a large group of factors and different causes may be responsible for the three different types. Factors that contribute to transient or short-term insomnia include jet lag, stressful life events, acute medical illnesses, stimulant medications and, most commonly, a change of sleeping environments. Chronic insomnia can be caused by drugs or alcohol use, medical, neurologic, or psychiatric conditions, or by a variety of primary sleep disorders. Primary sleep disorders include restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea syndrome, and idiopathic insomnia (usually present since childhood) among others.

Treatments for Insomnia

Treating insomnia means finding its source. Dailystrength users with insomnia have found success with non-pharmacologic methods including relaxation techniques and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In addition to behavioral therapies, medications used with members of Dailystrength's insomnia support group include: Benzodiazepines (ativan, valium, xanax), atypical benzodiazepines (ambien, sonata, and lunesta), antihistamines (Benadryl), melatonin, Rozerem and antidepressants.

Insomnia Resources and Support

In Dailystrength's online support group, those suffering with insomnia can find help from others with a lifetime of experience coping with and treating their insomnia. Insomnia sufferers can also find support in other related communities, like sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, chronic pain, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

If you are experiencing insomnia for the first time or have suffered with chronic insomnia you may want to review these resources and share them with others in DailyStrength's Insomnia Forum:

• American Academy of Sleep Medicine
• National Center on Sleep Disorders Research National Sleep Foundation
• Excellent video about insomnia from Stanford University Medical Center