Different Kinds Of Sleep Disorders

The first kinds of sleep disorders are called dyssomnias.

Dyssomnias have to do with the manner in which, as well as when a person goes to sleep.

Whether you struggle to get to sleep, stay asleep or struggle to wake up.

When a person goes to sleep also falls into this category.

Dyssomnias are divided into five categories.

1) Primary Insomnia:

Insomnia is a problem, if over a lengthy period of time, at least one month, someone has difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep once they have fallen asleep.

To be diagnosed as primary insomnia, the sleep problem must significantly interfere with a person's normal life and or lifestyle .

More often than not, people with insomnia not only have difficulty falling asleep, but once asleep will frequently be disturbed and wake up.

Unfortunately this can turn into a cycle whereby the more one concentrates on trying to get the sleep needed, the less they actually get.

Insomnia can lead to severe problems with a persons concentration, energy level, or mood.

2) Primary Hypersomnia:

This condition is just the opposite of insomnia, those suffering from hypersomnia just can't seem to stay awake.

No matter how much sleep they have had they just don't feel rested and want to sleep some more.

This condition has a seriously negative affect on any social life that they may have, and their work situation is equally as badly affected.

3) Narcolepsy.:

Narcolepsy can be described as having a sleep attack.

These sleep attacks can happen at any time, one second the person will be doing some normal activity, the next they will be fast asleep.

This sleep might last only a few seconds or it might last up to an hour. A sufferer could have several attacks a day.

A person suffering from narcolepsy is very restricted in in their normal daily activity, for instance, they can't drive themselves around, nor can they operate machinery which might harm them or those around them if they fall asleep.

Narcolepsy can to normal people appear quite humorous, but for the sufferer these kinds of sleep disorders are anything but.

4) Breathing-Related Sleep Disorder:

If a person has a problem breathing while they are asleep, they may have a breathing-related sleep disorder.

For instance, someone with sleep apnea which is characterized by the person actually stopping breathing for a period of time.

Sometimes sleep apnea is caused by obstruction of the person's airway. Loud snoring or gasping is often noted with this type of sleep problem.

However, there are other sleep apnea problems that are not associated with obstruction of the airway. Sleep apnea is potentially very serious and may lead to premature death if not treated.

5) Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder:

Circadian rhythm sleep disorder occurs when the normal sleep pattern is disturbed. For instance, if someone has to start working night shift and does not get enough sleep during the day. Or another example is when moving from one time zone to another (Jet Lag). This type of sleep disorder is normally very temporary.

The next kind of sleep disorders are called Parasomnias.

Parasomnias occur while the person is sleeping.

1) Nightmare Disorder:

Nightmare disorder is when a bad dream or nightmare reoccurs, often on a nightly basis. The affected person can normally remember the dream in great detail.

These dreams cause great anxiety to the person having them.

Children often suffer from this, but normally grow out of it.

2) Sleep Terror Disorder:

When a person wakes up from a dream crying or screaming, they might have been experiencing sleep terror disorder.

Under most circumstances the person is difficult to wake-up and the episode may last quite a few minutes.

Sometimes the person with sleep terror will sit in bed and scream or cry, but might might still be fast asleep, waking such a person can take a while.

When the person is awakened, they might be confused and may not remember the dream.

Sleep terror usually only occurs once per night. The person being awakened from such a dream might react violently, punching and kicking out at the person responsible for waking them.

Sleep terror occurs in children and adults.

3) Sleep Walking Disorder:

A sleepwalker will often have a blank expression on their faces while doing the sleepwalking, they will not respond to anyone around them and will appear to be in a trance.

A sleepwalker can perform quite intricate tasks while sleepwalking. Having a snack while asleep is not unknown. They can easily open or close doors, go up or down stairs.

Sleepwalkers do not normally remember anything about an episode once awakened..

Sleepwalking occurs in both adults and in children and can be chronic, lasting for years.

Differing kinds of sleep disorders are very common in modern society, approximately 20% of all adults suffer from one form or another.

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