Is Chronic Insomnia A Symptom of A Much More Dire Things
In many cases, it is unclear if chronic insomnia is a symptom of some physical or psychological condition or if it is a primary disorder of its own. In most instances, a mix of psychological and physical conditions causes the insomnia.
Psychophysiologic insomnia occurs when an episode of transient insomnia disrupts the person’s circadian rhythm. The patient begins to associate the bed not with rest and relaxation but with a struggle to sleep. A pattern of sleep failure emerges. Over time, this event repeats, and bedtime becomes a source of anxiety. Once in bed, the patient broods over the inability to sleep, the consequences of sleep loss, and the lack of mental control. All attempts to sleep fail.