Insomnia is a sleep disorder. It is an inability to sleep properly or to have enough sleep. It is not only about the duration of sleep but also about the quality of sleep you get.

Insomnia is thus defined according to encyclopedia

Insomnia is trouble falling asleep, staying asleep through the night, or waking up too early in the morning. Episodes of insomnia may come and go or be long-lasting. The quality of your sleep is as important as how much sleep you get.

It is proven to occur more in adults above fifty years old than in younger ones.

Kids generally do sleep a lot not minding how the surface is. A child may sleep on a chair, lying on a table or even easily in cars. There are adults who sleep easily too, though it is not as common as found among kids.

Causes of insomnia

• Stress : Insomnia is usually caused by too much stress during the day's activity. This kind is usually short lived as your normal sleeping routine would be restored once you are relieved of the stress. However, constant stress may lead to continuous insomnia.

• Sleeping habit : A poor sleeping habit and an irregular sleeping schedule is a usually cause of insomnia. Your sleeping position,bed condition and sleeping space must all suite you well. Also, be constant on the numbers of hours you use in sleeping. 6-8 hours sleep per day remains an healthy range of healthy sleeping hours.

• Mental health disorders : Anxiety and depression is one of the main causes of insomnia. You can easily lose sleep for days or even weeks if you are worried on some serious matters. You should resolve anything causing worry and depression. In serious cases of depressions, the patient should visit a therapist.

• Illness and physical pain : Some illness and pain takes sleep off eyes for days or makes it impossible to have a sound sleep. Examples of such illness include whooping of cough, fever, physical wounds sustained, stomach pain, ulcer, hypertension , or any severe pain. In these cases, the right medication to cure the illness should be sought as this will likely eradicate the insomnia.

• Medications : Some medications causes insomnia. Such medications works by affecting the sleep of the patient to not sleep properly, having numerous nightmare.

• Lack of exercise : working the muscles will naturally help in inducing a sound sleep. Lack of these could lead to insomnia and exercising could stop it. Sitting at one position, too long driving are possible causes.

• Neurological disorders

Being unable to settle the mind also causes insomnia. When the mind and brain is busy thinking, it'll be difficult to find sleep. Sleep brings rest especially to the mind and brain and generally to the body. Don't think about the next day, why you're not yet getting the sleep and do not try too hard to get the sleep. Sleep is designed to come with ease, not with force.

There are three types of insomnia

• Transient (more than one week)

• Acute (short term)

• Chronic (long term)

It is believed that insomnia if chronic cannot be cured, however it can be perfectly controlled and managed in cases of transient and acute ones.

Insomnia can be controlled and managed in the following ways

• Stick to your sleep schedule

• Do exercise often

• Avoid taking alcohol, caffeine and nicotine

• Avoid temptation to use sleeping pills unless prescribed by a doctor. It could lead you deeper into insomnia and you may get addicted to using pills before you can get sleep which is very unhealthy.

• Avoid or limit naps

• Stay active all day

• Avoid taking large meals and beverages before going to bed

• Make the bed comfortable for you.

• Avoid trying too hard to sleep. The more you try, the harder it is.

• Avoid staying on bed when unable to sleep. You can leave at the moment and come back when sleepy

• Check your medications

• Visit a doctor if the insomnia continues for a long time.

• Avoid unnecessary and loud noise around your House or room.

I hope you find this article useful for yourself or for someone who has problem sleeping.