About Us | Privacy | Site Map
February 9, 2012
Font Size
A
A
A

Primary Insomnia (cont.)

Medical Author:
Coauthor:
Medical Editor:
Medical Editor:
Medical Editor:

Primary Insomnia Symptoms

Psychophysiological insomnia

  • Sleep disturbance varies from mild to severe.

  • Sleeplessness may manifest as difficulty falling asleep or as frequent awakenings in the night.

  • Persons with insomnia often find that they can sleep well anywhere else but in their own bedroom.

  • Persons with this type of insomnia tend to be more tense and dissatisfied compared to good sleepers. Emotionally, they are typically repressors (suppress their feelings), denying problems.
Idiopathic insomnia

  • Insomnia is long-standing, typically beginning in early childhood.

  • Persons with idiopathic insomnia often complain of difficulties with attention or concentration or hyperactivity.

  • Emotionally, persons with childhood-onset insomnia are often repressors, denying and minimizing emotional problems.

  • Individuals often show atypical reactions, such as hypersensitivity or insensitivity, to medications.

  • Insomnia tends to persist over the entire life span and can be aggravated by stress or tension.

Sleep state misperception: Persons complain of insomnia subjectively, while sleep duration and quality are completely normal. These people may be described as having "sleep hypochondriasis." They may subsequently develop anxiety and depression.

Next Page:

Sleep Disorders

Get tips for better sleep.




Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Primary Insomnia »

Primary insomnia is sleeplessness that is not attributable to a medical, psychiatric, or environmental cause.

Read More on Medscape Reference »

Medical Dictionary


Use Pill Finder Find it Now

Pill Identifier on RxList

  • quick,
    easy,
    pill identification

Find a Local Pharmacy

  • including
    24 hour
    pharmacies