For the novel by This page is about Stephen Edwin King, the writer. See also Stephen King (disambiguation). Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is a prolific American author best known for his horror novels. Kings books have been extremely popular, and are among the top-selling books ever, fiction or non... Stephen King, see Insomnia is a novel written by Stephen King and first published in 1994. Like It, its setting is the fictional town of Derry, Maine. Categories: Stub | 1994 books | Novels by Stephen King ... Insomnia (novel); for the Norwegian movie and its American remake, see Insomnia (1997) was the debut film of Norweigan director Erik Skjoldbjærg, telling the story of a cross-border collaboration between Swedish and Norweigan police to hunt down the killer of a fifteen year old girl. The investigation goes horribly wrong when police officer Jonas Engström (Stellan Skarsgård... Insomnia (movie).

Insomnia is a Contents // 1 Definition 2 Common sleep disorders 3 Broad classifications of sleep disorders 4 Common causes of sleep disorders 5 Treatments 6 External links Definition A sleep disorder is a disorder in the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders can interfere with mental and emotional function... sleep disorder characterised by an inability to sleep and/or to remain asleep for a reasonable period during the night. Sufferers typically complain of being unable to close their eyes for more than a few minutes at a time, or of 'tossing and turning' through the night.

If insomnia continues for more than a few nights running, it can become chronic and cause a Sleep debt is the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep. When someone consistently gets less sleep than they should, the body seems to maintain an awareness of the cumulative amount of missed sleep. Unlike sleep debt, a sleep surplus cannot be accumulated. Contents // 1 Accumulating sleep debt 2 Amount... sleep deficit that is extremely detrimental to the sufferer's well-being. Insomnia interrupts the natural The Circadian rhythm is a name given to the internal body clock that regulates the (roughly) 24 hour cycle of biological processes in animals and plants. (The term circadian comes from the Latin circa, meaning around and dies, day, meaning literally, around the day). Humans have been aware of these... sleep cycle, which can be hard to restore. Some insomniacs unwittingly perpetuate their complaint by napping in the late afternoon or early evening, leading to wakefulness at bedtime and more insomnia. Others push their bodies to the limits, until their sleep deficit causes severe physical and mental effects.

Many people who feel they are suffering from insomnia may actually have a lower physical need for sleep than they believe they do. A normal part of the ageing process is to sleep more lightly and for shorter periods of time, and some elderly people toss and turn in bed late at night or early in the morning when their body has no physical need for more rest, because they believe that they must 'need' a certain amount of sleep to be rested.

Insomnia is a common side-effect of some medications, and it can also be caused by Stress (roughly the opposite of relaxation) is a medical term for a wide range of strong external stimuli, both physiological and psychological, which can cause a physiological response called the general adaptation syndrome, first described in 1936 by Hans Selye in the journal Nature. Contents // 1 Selyes work 2... stress, emotional upheaval, physical or The Scream, the famous painting commonly thought of as depicting the experience of mental illness. A mental illness is a psychiatric disorder that results in a disruption in a persons thinking, feeling, moods, and ability to relate to others. Mental illness is distinct from the legal concept of insanity... mental illness, dietary allergy and poor Sleep hygiene is the practice of following simple guidelines to ensure restful, effective sleep promoting daytime alertness and helping avoid the onset of sleep disorders. Trouble sleeping and daytime sleepiness are indicators of poor sleep hygiene. Measures include: Going to bed and rising at the same time seven days a... sleep hygiene. Insomnia is a major symptom of mania in people with Bipolar Affective Disorder, also known as manic depression is a disorder of the brain resulting in unusually extreme highs and lows of an individuals mood, i.e. affect, over time. The high part of the mood is called For the classical mythological figures named Mania, see Mania (mythology). Mania... bipolar disorder, and it can also be a sign of Hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis or fast thyroid gland) is the clinical syndrome caused by an excess of circulating free thyroxine (T4) and free triiodothyronine (T3), or both. Major causes in humans are Graves disease (the most common etiology with 70-80%), toxic thyroid adenoma, toxic multinodular goitre, and subacute thyroiditis. Contents // 1... hyper-thyroidism, It is common to feel sad, discouraged , or down once in a while, and anyone in this state might say they are suffering from depression. But for some people, this mood persists. For depression, or any other condition, to be termed clinical it must reach criteria which are generally accepted... depression, or other physical complaints with stimulating effects.

Additionally, a rare genetic condition can cause a For the bird called a prion, see Prion (bird) Prions - short for proteinaceous infectious particle - are infectious self-reproducing protein structures. Though their exact mechanisms of action and reproduction are still unknown, it is now commonly accepted that they are responsible for a number of previously known but little-understood... prion-based, permanent and eventually fatal form of insomnia called FFI prion Scientific classification (unranked) Prion (unranked) Mammalian prion (unranked) FFI prion Fatal familial insomnia is an autosomal dominant inherited, non-infectious brain disease. It is caused by prions, similar to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The same protein implicated in Creutzfeld-Jakob disease is altered (asparagine-178... Fatal Familial Insomnia.

Treatment for insomnia

Many insomniacs rely on A sedative is a drug that depresses the central nervous system (CNS), which causes calmness, relaxation, reduction of anxiety, sleepiness, slowed breathing, slurred speech, staggering gait, poor judgment, and slow, uncertain reflexes. Sedatives may be referred to as tranquilizers, depressants, anxiolytics, soporifics, sleeping pills, downers, or sedative-hypnotics. At high... sleeping tablets and other A sedative is a drug that depresses the central nervous system (CNS), which causes calmness, relaxation, reduction of anxiety, sleepiness, slowed breathing, slurred speech, staggering gait, poor judgment, and slow, uncertain reflexes. Sedatives may be referred to as tranquilizers, depressants, anxiolytics, soporifics, sleeping pills, downers, or sedative-hypnotics. At high... sedatives to try to get some rest. Others use This article is about the plants used in cooking and medicine. For the New Zealand reggae band, see Herbs (band). This article is part of the Cuisine series Preparation techniques and cooking items Utensils Techniques Weights and measures Ingredients and types of food Spices & Herbs Sauces - Soups Cheese - Pasta... herbs such as Valerian Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Dipsacales Family: Valerianaceae Genus: Valeriana Species: officinalis Binomial name Valeriana officinalis L. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis, Valerianaceae) is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers. Note that this sweet smell is quite overpowering when... valerian, The name Chamomile or Camomile is ambiguous and can refer to several distinct species. German chamomile Matricaria recucita (syn. M. chamomilla) Pineapple weed (or Wild chamomile) Matricaria matricarioides Roman chamomile Chamaemelum nobile (syn Anthemis nobilis) the lawn chamomile. Dog fennel Anthemis cotula and to some extent other Anthemis species Chamomile... chamomile, Lavender Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Lavandula Species Lavandula angustifolia Lavandula dentata Lavandula lanata Lavandula multifida Lavandula latifolia Lavandula stoechas Lavandula viridis Lavandula X intermedia For the color shade, see Lavender (color) The Lavenders are the genus Lavandula of flowering plant in... lavender, (Hops redirects here. See also Hops (restaurant).) Hops Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Cannabaceae Genus: Humulus Species: lupulus Binomial name Humulus lupulus Hops are the female flowers of the Humulus lupulus, or hop, vine used as a flavor and stability agent in beer. The... hops, and/or Passionflower Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Dilleniidae Order: Malpighiales Family: Passifloraceae Genus: Passiflora Species Passiflora amalocarpa Passiflora amethystina Passiflora aurantia Passiflora caerulea Passiflora capsularis Passiflora edulis Passiflora foetida Passiflora helleri Passiflora holosericea Passiflora incarnata Passiflora karwinskii Passiflora mucronata Passiflora murucuja Passiflora tenuifila Passiflora tulae Passiflora vitifolia... passion-flower.

Some traditional remedies for insomnia have included drinking warm milk before bedtime; taking a warm bath in the evening; exercising vigorously for half an hour in the afternoon; eating a large lunch and then having only a light evening meal at least three hours before bed; avoiding mentally stimulating activities in the evening hours; and paradoxically, making sure to get up early in the morning and to retire to bed at a reasonable hour.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) also known simply as Chinese medicine (Chinese: 中醫學 or 中药学, zhōngyào xŭe) or traditional Oriental medicine, is the name commonly given to a range of traditional medical practices originating in China thousands of years ago. Primary medical... Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have been treating insomnia sufferers for thousands of years. A typical approach may utilize This article may require editing to conform to the neutral point of view policy. This article may be needed to be re_written as the article may be biased and against the NPOV policy.Currently there may not be a specific dispute, but the content may need discussion on the talk... acupuncture, dietary and lifestyle analysis, Herbology is the art of combining medicinal herbs. Herbology This article is part of the branches of CAM series. CAM Classifications NCCAM: Component of Traditional Chinese medicine that uses a form of biologically based therapy that is centered around the use of herbs. Modality: Professionalized Culture: Eastern Chinese Herbology is... herbology and other techniques, with the goal of rebalancing the body's energies to resolve the problem at a subtle level.

Although they may seem unscientific, many of these remedies are sufficient to break the insomnia cycle without the need for sedatives and sleeping tablets. Warm milk contains high levels of Tryptophan is an amino acid and essential in human nutrition. It is one of the 20 amino acids in the genetic code (codon UGG), and its symbol is Trp or W. Molecular formula: C11H12N2O2 Molecular weight: 204.23 Isoelectric point: pH 5.89 CAS number: 73-22-3 Tryptophan is... tryptophan, a natural sedative. Lavender Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Lavandula Species Lavandula angustifolia Lavandula dentata Lavandula lanata Lavandula multifida Lavandula latifolia Lavandula stoechas Lavandula viridis Lavandula X intermedia For the color shade, see Lavender (color) The Lavenders are the genus Lavandula of flowering plant in... Lavender oil and other relaxing An essential oil is a water-immiscible material produced by distillation from some plant material. The material (flowers, leaves, stems, or roots, depending on the plant) is put in an alembic over water, and the volatile compounds, which require less vapor pressure to evaporate with the presence of steam, distill... essential oils may also be used to help induce a state of restfulness.

The most commonly used class of hypnotics prescribed for insomnia are the Benzodiazepine tablets The benzodiazepines are a class of drugs with hypnotic, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, amnestic and muscle relaxant properties. Benzodiazepines are often used for short-term relief of severe, disabling anxiety or insomnia. Long-term use can be problematic due to the development of tolerance and dependency. They are believed to... benzodiazepines. This would include drugs such as Diazepam 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one Empiric formula C16H13ClN2O Molecular weight 284.7 Bioavailability ? Metabolism Liver Elimination half life biphasic 1-2d/2-5d Excretion Urine ATC code N05BA01 Pregnancy category D (USA) C (Aus) Diazepam, brand names: Valium, Seduxen... diazepam, Lorazepam is classified as a sedative-hypnotic and a member of the group of drugs known as benzodiazepines. It is available in tablets and as a solution for intramuscular and intravenous injections. The main indication for its use are some forms of anxiety disorders, so it is also commonly known... lorazepam, Nitrazepam is a drug also sold under the trade name Mogadon. It is used to control seizures and to allow insomniacs to sleep. It shortens the time required to fall asleep and lengthens the duration of this sleep. Typically, it may work within an hour and allow its taker to... nitrazepam and Midazolam 8-chloro-6-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-methyl- 4H-Imidazo(1,5-a)(1,4)benzodiazepine CAS number 59467-70-8 ATC code N05CD08 Chemical formula C18H13ClFN3 Molecular weight 325.773 Bioavailability  ? Metabolism  ? Elimination half-life  ? Excretion  ? Pregnancy category  ? Legal status  ? Routes of administration... midazolam.

Removing probable causes of insomnia

Please note that the advice given below is not a substitute for a professional medical specialist's advice.

• Sufferers of insomnia should avoid all Caffeine molecular structure Caffeine is an alkaloid found naturally in such foods as coffee beans, tea, kola nuts, Yerba maté, guarana, and (in small amounts) cacao beans. It is added to some soft drinks such as colas, Irn-Bru and Mountain Dew. Caffeine has a characteristic intensely bitter taste. Its... caffeine. Caffeine is often a factor in insomnia, including insomnia in night-shift workers. Caffeine is found in This article discusses the coffee plant; for information on the beverage see coffee (drink). Coffee Coffee trees in Hawaii. Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rubiales Family: Rubiaceae Genus: Coffea Species Coffea arabica - Arabica Coffee Coffea benghalensis - Bengal coffee Coffea canephora - Robusta coffee Coffea congensis - Congo coffee... coffee, This article is about the beverage. For alternative meanings, see tea (disambiguation). A tea bush. Tea drinking in China dates back to before the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Tea is a caffeinated beverage, an infusion made by steeping the dried leaves or buds of the shrub Camellia sinensis in hot... tea, Yerba mate Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Aquifoliales Family: Aquifoliaceae Genus: Ilex Species: paraguariensis Binomial name Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil. Yerba mate (pronounced /yare-ba{ mah-tay/), Ilex paraguariensis, or hierba mate, or erva mate in Portuguese, sometimes called simply mate, is a shrub in... yerba mate (Ilex paraguaiensis), Guaraná Guaraná fruit Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Sapindales Family: Sapindaceae Genus: Paullinia Species: cupana Binomial name Paullinia cupana Kunth Guarana or Guaraná (pronounced gwa-ra-naa), Paullinia cupana, is a shrub or small tree in the Sapindaceae, native to Venezuela and northern Brazil, known for... guarana, This article is about cocoa, the food. For information about Cocoa, the API and programming environment for the Mac OS X operating system, see Cocoa (software). For information about the city in Florida, see Cocoa, Florida. Cocoa may refer to either the dried and partially fermented fatty seeds of the... cocoa, Kola can refer to: Kola nut Kola Peninsula, in the far north of Russia Kola Island, part of the Aru Islands of Indonesia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. If an article link referred you here... kola nut (this includes all Several differnt brands of cola. (PEPSI, TAUfrisch Cola, PEPSI MAX, River Cola, Coca-Cola, Sinalco Cola, afri Cola, Coca-Cola light) A cola is a sweet carbonated drink, usually with caramel flavoring and containing caffeine. The flavor of the drink sometimes comes from a mixture of vanilla, cinnamon, and citrus... cola drinks); it is also found in "energy" sodas like For the seventeenth century playhouse in London, see Red Bull Theatre. Red Bull is the brand name of a famous Austrian carbonated soft drink. Sold as an energy drink and to combat mental fatigue, it contains about 5 teaspoons of sugar, 1000 mg of taurine, 600 mg of glucuronolactone, a... Red Bull and similar, chocolate bars and other candy. Drink herbal teas or plain water instead of caffeine-containing liquids.
• The bedroom environment should be conducive to sleep. Some people are very sensitive to light while others are sensitive to noise. The bedroom should be dark and quiet at night.
• Practice good sleep hygiene. Do not use the bed for too many activities besides sleep. Using the bed for reading, writing, watching TV and other such non-sleep-related activities will lower your association of the bed with sleeping. Similarly, try to keep to a regular schedule of what time to go to bed and what time to wake up. Try not to sleep during the daytime.
• Sleep apnea (alternatively sleep apnoea) is a sleep disorder in which breathing is interrupted during sleep. It is a kind of dyssomnia. Contents // 1 Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) 1.1 Diagnosis 2 Treatment 2.1 Physical Intervention 2.2 Medical (pharmaceutical) treatment 2.3 Neurostimulation 2.4 Surgical intervention 3... Sleep apnea can be a cause of insomnia. While a visit to the doctor will help in the diagnosis or ruling out of sleep apnea, a definitive answer will have to come from a study at a sleep lab.
• Sometimes lack of sleep is indicative of an emotional problem that's not being dealt with. If a person is not happy with their lifestyle, or they are putting off problems that should be dealt with, it can often result in sleeping trouble. Just as the human body has nutritional requirements, all people have social and environmental requirements. Sometimes more social activities can help.
• Patients with It is common to feel sad, discouraged , or down once in a while, and anyone in this state might say they are suffering from depression. But for some people, this mood persists. For depression, or any other condition, to be termed clinical it must reach criteria which are generally accepted... depression may suffer from insomnia. A doctor can treat this, sometimes by changing or adding prescriptions.
• In the Statues of Buddha such as this, the Tian Tan Buddha statue in Hong Kong, remind followers to practice right living. Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit; in Pāli, Siddhattha Gotama), who lived between approximately 563 and... Buddhist tradition, those suffering from insomnia or nightmares may be advised to practice meditation on loving-kindness, or Mettā (मेटा in Devanagari) is a Pali word meaning unconditional loving-kindness. The Sanskrit is maitrī. It is one of the ten pāramitās. The mettā bhāvanā (cultivation of mettā) is a popular form of meditation in... metta. The practice of generating a feeling of love and goodwill toward all beings can have a soothing and calming effect on the mind and body. In the Mettā Sutta, Standing Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE. Gautama Buddha was a South Asian spiritual leader who lived between approximately 563 BCE and 483 BCE. Born Siddhartha Gautama in Sanskrit, a name meaning descendant of Gotama whose aims are achieved/who is efficacious in achieving aims, he... The Buddha said that easeful sleep was one of the eleven benefits of this form of meditation.
• Obscure This article needs cleanup. Please edit this article to conform to a higher standard of article quality. This article deals specifically with IgE mediated hypersensitivity. For other types of allergic or hypersensitive reactions see the main article: Hypersensitivity An allergy or Type I hypersensitivity is a immune malfunction whereby a... allergies, such as dairy allergies, can sometimes cause sleeping disorders. Other symptoms may be very mild, such as slightly stuffed sinuses. A nutritionist can make helpful dietary and supplement recommendations.
• If an alarm has been set, avoid looking at the clock during the night and cover the display if necessary. This prevents mental calculations of how much sleep has been lost so far and how little sleep can be obtained before the alarm will sound. Accepting that the amount of sleep obtained can only be determined upon waking, not while waiting to get to sleep, may also be beneficial.

A multifaceted approach

Most people who have cured their insomnia have done so by reviewing and experimenting with many different cures. Often, a combination of dietary and lifestyle changes is the most helpful approach. As with many similar health problems, a determined, across-the-board holistic approach to sleeping problems is the most effective solution.

External links

• Sleep Tips for a Good Night's Sleep (http://www.helpguide.org/aging/sleep_tips.htm)
• Insomnia: Causes, Cures and Treatments (http://www.helpguide.org/aging/insomnia_treatment.htm)
• Sleep tips and information about insomnia, sleep disorders, sleep aids, overcoming sleeplessness, and more. (http://www.shuteye.com)
• Treating insomnia with the "relaxation response". (http://www.holistic-online.com/Remedies/Sleep/sleep_ins_relaxation.htm)
• The relaxation response. (http://www.ucop.edu/humres/eap/relaxationrespone.html)
• An informational site about insomnia and insomnia treatments. (http://www.getsomesleep.com)