Insomnia is a sleep disorder which can be subdivided into three areas. It is characterized by any of the following:

Insomnia can be classified into three types based on the length of time it affects an individual.

Transient insomnia lasts less than a week. It is due to changes in living or working conditions. Then there is Short-term insomnia, or acute transient insomnia, which lasts for less than three weeks and has similar origin as transient insomnia.

Finally there is, chronic insomnia which may be classified as primary or secondary:

1) Primary chronic insomnia - not caused by any physical or mental condition. 2) Secondary chronic insomnia due to physical and mental problems, such as depressive illness, or emotional and psychiatric illness.

Insomnia is symptomatic of underlying disease or imbalance, Knowing the cause of insomnia is very important before deciding on a course of action such as medication.

Depressive illness is the most common cause of chronic insomnia, more so in the elderly. One study indicates that depressed elderly patients, if suffering from insomnia, have a tendency to be depressed for over a year.

Another study shows that even if an elderly patient suffers from insomnia, without any prior depressive illness, they have a high risk of being depressed and is usually seen in women. Insomnia can affect ones' lifestyle in a negative way. Worrying, then causes depression.

Symptoms of depression are characterized by sadness or misery. Many people have experienced some temporary feelings like this at one time. Clinical depression is a mood disorder indicated by feelings of sadness, anger or frustration. Such symptoms can affect daily life for an extended period of time.

Another interesting point you may not be aware of is that some medications used for symptoms of depression can cause insomnia. This is because these medications change the quantity of mood chemicals to make the patient more positive again but at times, these make the patient anxious also.

Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft are known as serotonin-reuptake inhibitors. Serotonin is an important monoamine neurotransmitter that plays a large role in depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders. Some serotonin is converted by the pineal gland, the pea-sized gland at the center of the brain, into melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate the sleeping and waking cycles.

In addition to the prescribed medications to treat insomnia, a patient may also practice the following procedures to combat insomnia.

* Control exposure to caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.

These three substances are known to disrupt one's normal sleeping patterns. * Maintain regular sleeping time and waking time.

This would help in maintaining the circadian rhythm thus minimizing the effects of fatigue caused by insomnia.

* Regular exercise is good for the body but this shouldn't be done late in the afternoon or early in the evening.

This is because exercise tends to start-up the body. If the body has gained more energy by the end of the day, this can prevent one from being able to sleep at night.

* Go to be only when about to sleep. Reading or watching TV in bed is discouraged or to be avoided.

When the mind is conditioned that the bed is for sleeping, once one goes to bed, he or she can readily get some sleep.

* Eat meals regularly.

Meal intake affects biological activities due to increased blood blow to the stomach.

These pointers may be helpful in managing conditions associated with insomnia. Still, some situations require sleep-promoting medications prescribed by a medical specialist.