Looking into Insomnia

“A definition and a basic understanding”

What is insomnia anyway?

Let's begin with the seemingly simple question of what insomnia actually entails. Of course, it's defined as the inability to sleep, but the concept itself has evolved and been studied extensively over time. There are numerous definitions of insomnia available online, and the term dates back to at least the 1600s. Related words include "agrypnotic" and "agrupnos," which refer to being unable to sleep despite actively pursuing rest.

For a definition go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insomnia  

Full definition and criteria are found here DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria for Primary Insomnia 

While these sources provide definitions for the words, it's important to understand the medical and scientific perspectives in greater depth. Science plays a crucial role in our understanding of insomnia as it can provide effective treatments and help us cope with this condition. However, science is not the only source of information, understanding, or treatment for insomnia. Let's take a closer look at the scientific history of diagnosing and treating insomnia. In the 1980s, insomnia was considered a symptom rather than a primary disorder. It was often linked to other disorders such as depression or physical illnesses. The recommended treatment was to focus on the primary disorder and hope that addressing it would also alleviate insomnia symptoms. Alternatively, some may choose to ignore insomnia as a secondary issue, while others would use hypnotics as a short-term solution.

Chronic insomnia was previously defined as a symptom of another underlying psychological or physical condition. This may explain why, growing up, when someone mentioned having trouble sleeping, the typical response was to ask about their thoughts or mental state. This perspective likely permeated society through media outlets if doctors, psychologists, and scientists held this belief. However, around 2005, there was a shift in understanding within the scientific community regarding chronic insomnia.

In 2005, insomnia was reclassified as a disorder rather than just a symptom. This marked an important change in its classification, as it was now recognized that chronic insomnia could exist on its own and should be treated accordingly. This was a relief for those who had been living with insomnia for years and had been made to feel like something was wrong with them beyond just having trouble sleeping. Before this change, many insomniacs may have wondered if they were depressed or ill because of societal pressure. The internal dialogue of constantly worrying about not being able to sleep only added to the vicious cycle of insomnia. With the new classification, treatment focused on both the insomnia itself and any underlying illnesses or disorders that may be contributing to it. It was found that treating insomnia often helped improve the overall condition of the individual. In 2014, DSM-IV-TR defined insomnia as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or experiencing nonrestorative sleep for at least one month as the main complaint.

It is crucial to understand that insomnia has become a recognized disorder with its own set of diagnostic criteria. This is not to simply label oneself, but rather to ensure that it is taken seriously by medical professionals and proper treatment can be found. Instead of dwelling on the reasons behind our insomnia, we must shift our mindset to accepting it as part of our lives and focus on living with it. At Insomnia Life, we believe this acceptance is key to managing the disorder.

Moving forward, we will delve deeper into the causes and effects of insomnia. And how predatory self-help and snake oil salespeople within the insomnia industry manipulate these for their own advantage.

While I have issues with a lot of the DSM-V I believe the below is a relatively good definition of insomnia.

According to the DSM-V, insomnia is defined as a primary complaint of dissatisfaction with the quantity or quality of sleep. This can include difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early without being able to fall back asleep. Other factors that classify it as a disorder are its impact on daily life, occurring at least three times a week for over three months, and not being associated with any other disorder or medication use.

Finally, if you need support and would like a place to talk to other insomniacs, please check out my insomnia chat Facebook group. At the time of writing, it has over two thousand members and growing. People post within the group or use the chats provided to share their experiences and give each other support.

You can find it here: Insomnia Chat Facebook Group

Join our free anti-social network being launched soon here insomniachat.com