Within any given year, approximately thirty to forty percent of adults report having experienced insomnia at some point, according to the National Center for Sleep Disorders Research. This same organization also reports that between ten and fifteen percent of all adults experience chronic insomnia. Though many people opt for prescription drugs to assist them with their struggles with sleeping, there is a growing number of individuals who prefer to use milder non-prescription sleep aids.
Though it is important to speak with your doctor, even before choosing non-prescription sleep aids, which do not require a prescription, it is still advisable to educate yourself regarding your condition so that you can make the best choices for treating it. The first step is to identify the type of insomnia from which you suffer.
Though insomnia is one condition, it is broken down into sub-types to make it easier to comprehend and treat.
Primary insomnia occurs when you struggle to be able to fall asleep, and then you may also be unable to maintain that state of unconsciousness. This leads you to feel fatigued throughout the next day. It is not uncommon for people suffering from this type of insomnia to also experience anxiety or to be preoccupied with something that is causing them stress, prohibiting them from falling or remaining asleep. Moreover, the inability to achieve enough rest only causes further stress, worsening the problem. Many people with primary insomnia choose non-prescription sleep aids to help them to relax so that they can release their anxieties and stresses and drift off.
Co-morbid insomnia is a type of sleep problem that is the direct result of a person’s medical conditions, mental health problems, side effects from medications, or bad sleeping habits.
Transient insomnia is a kind of sleep problem that lasts only one night to a few weeks, but then ceases to be a problem. Common causes of this form of struggle to achieve rest are a change in surroundings, high or low temperatures, or jet lag. Non-prescription sleep aids can be very helpful to individuals with this short-term or occasional condition.
Chronic insomnia is the form of the condition that extends over a long period of time. Though there are several different possible causes, the most common is depression. Others include anxiety, asthma, sleep apnea, restlessness, narcolepsy, arthritis, and caffeine, drug, or alcohol abuse.
Work with your doctor to identify the type of insomnia you face, and you will be able to choose the appropriate non-prescription sleep aids together.
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