Chronic Insomnia Disorder

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Among the types of insomnia, chronic insomnia is a complicated condition in which the patient has difficulty in sleeping or getting refreshing sleep for more than a month. It results from a variety of underlying causes, both physical and mental. Depression is a major cause of chronic insomnia. Other causes include diseases like arthritis, heart problems, kidney problems, respiratory diseases (asthma for example), Parkinson’s Disease, hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, and several other conditions. Constant experience of mental stress and excessive use of stimulants like caffeine (coffee, tea etc.) are also responsible for causing chronic insomnia.

Treatment Methods

Treatment of chronic insomnia consists of diagnosing and eliminating the underlying medical/psychological disorders. Stopping or minimizing behaviors that aggravate insomnia are also part of the treatment plans.

Sleeping Pills

Sleeping pills may be prescribed by the physician for temporary use but they are not allowed for long-term use since they cause addiction and can aggravate chronic insomnia. They also cast side effects, which add to the problems of the patient.

Behavioral Techniques For Treating Chronic Insomnia

Different behavioral techniques are employed to treat chronic insomnia. These include techniques like relaxation therapy, sleep restriction therapy, reconditioning, and using bright light.

Relaxation Therapy

Relaxation therapy aims at treating chronic insomnia by reducing anxiety and body tension. This is accompanied by mental relaxation, which is the key to restful sleep. Effective relaxation therapy requires greater time and effort.

Sleep Restriction

Sleep restriction is based on the approach of reducing sleep time of insomniacs so that they can get sufficient sleep in proper time. Therapists have noted that some insomniacs spend a lot of time in bed, i.e. in relaxed state, so their natural urge to sleep suffers. By restricting their easy hours, therapists promote the natural urge to sleep and hence treat the insomnia symptoms.

Reconditioning

One way of helping insomniacs get sufficient restoring sleep is to condition their sleep with their bed and a proper time of sleeping. This technique requires that patients do not use their bed for activities other than sleep, e.g. reading, playing cards etc. He/she is only allowed to go to bed when the need to sleep is felt. Taking naps in the day is also not allowed.

Bright Light

The use of bright light is a technique that helps in resetting the patient’s biological clock to sleeping at a proper time in the night and waking up at a desirable time in the morning by exposure to bight light. For example, if the patient is exposed to some bright light in the evening, he/she will not sleep too early and hence not wake up too early in the morning. Bright light exposure technique should be monitored by a skilled behavior therapist.

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