Chronic insomnia treatment 

Chronic insomnia is a sleep disorder and for all practical purposes may be classified into two broad classes as ‘self induced chronic insomnia’ and ‘involuntary chronic insomnia’.

In order to find an appropriate chronic insomnia treatment it is absolutely necessary to pin point the causative factors. We will therefore look at the causes of both the types.

Causes of self induced chronic Insomnia 

Academicians, writers, students, professionals and housewives are the most susceptible people to this type of insomnia. On their commitments to conduct a research, write an assignment, and achieve their professional goal or to keep themselves on alert for fear of their spouse’s infidelity, they devise methods to keep themselves awake. Chain smoking, excessive use of black coffee or highly caffeinated drinks, are some of their routines. It is these routines which at first develop into a habit and later on convert into the form of chronic insomnia requiring proper treatment.

Causes of involuntary chronic Insomnia

Anxieties, like financial constraints, unemployment, and ill health are the main causes of this type. Sometimes genetic make up may also play some role in causing chronic insomnia. Hormonal disturbances have also been considered as assignable causes of insomnia among growing boys and girls. Weak infants, sick, elderly and people suffering from diseases like cancer and Aids also fall victim to this disorder.

Chronic Insomnia Treatment   

The root cause of all types of insomnia is ‘fear ‘. It is a fear of some known or unknown that doesn’t allow the insomniacs to sleep. Lord Moran was a young medical officer who worked in the war fields and later on became Churchill’s doctor. He quoted in his book ‘Anatomy of Courage’ from the essay ‘On Fear’, by Michel de Montaigne, “The thing I am most afraid of is fear”. In a case study he mentioned that a soldier was brought to him in a state of shock and provided with environment conducive to sleep, he slept like a log for more than 24 hours and recovered when awoke.

The primary and real treatment of chronic insomnia is therefore to get rid of the causative fear. This however is not given a due consideration and in submission to the prevalent ‘pill for everything’ culture, the insomniacs try to overcome their problem either through self medication and consuming some popular sleeping pills or get them prescribed properly. In either case, it is not an enviable or commendable approach. Use of medicines that may calm down or induce sleep through depressing activity of nerves or such medicines that may achieve sleep through relaxing muscles ,is one way of treatment but not the best way on account of potential dependence of the drug and associated side effects. Some yoga exercises have also been said to be some value in this respect. We however opine that improving general health, fighting against the sleep in odd timings and self suggestion to sleep in due timings along with an effort made to repel the causative fear is the right approach and right treatment of chronic insomnia.