Acute Insomnia Overview: Acute insomnia, much like transient insomnia, often lasts for a short time. Usually people develop acute insomnia following a tragic or emotionally charged event. While acute insomnia is usually not something that results in a medical crisis, it can develop into chronic insomnia if the underlying causes of sleep deprivation are not addressed.
Signs & Symptoms of Acute Insomnia : Many of the signs and symptoms of acute insomnia are the same as those of transient insomnia. They include:
- having trouble falling or staying asleep
- feeling fatigued during the day
- feeling overly emotional or irritable
When To Seek Help For Acute Insomnia: If you find that you are under a lot of stress and have trouble sleeping, you may have acute insomnia. Acute insomnia may last a few days or weeks. For some people, acute insomnia turns into chronic insomnia.
Do not wait too long before checking in with your doctor. Acute insomnia and accompanying symptoms usually improve once a patient seeks therapy and treatment. Proper treatment for insomnia may include addressing the what caused the insomnia in the first place, not just treating the symptoms.
Treatments Commonly Prescribed For Acute Insomnia: Many treatments help patients suffering from acute insomnia, including medication or psychiatric care. Your doctor may recommend short-term cognitive behavioral therapy to help you cope with the emotions experienced by unexpected or tragic events. By addressing these feelings, your insomnia may resolve without medication. If you are not certain your symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor, call your doctor anyway. Your doctor may want you to come in so he can rule out underlying causes for your symptoms including other sleep disorders or biological illnesses.