Transient Insomnia Overview: Transient insomnia is one of many different types of insomnia. Insomnia that comes and goes is often diagnosed as "transient." People with transient insomnia may have difficulty falling asleep or wake often during the night. They may feel fatigued throughout the day. Unlike chronic insomnia, transient insomnia is usually short-term.
Signs & Symptoms Of Transient Insomnia: Short-term or transient insomnia symptoms usually come and go. Symptoms of insomnia may last just a day or two, or several days depending on the causes and your overall mental and physical health. Transient insomnia often results from an unexpected event, travel to a different time zone or a short-term illness. Common symptoms of transient insomnia include:
- Difficulty falling asleep for 1 to 7 days
- Waking often during the night for a few days
- Temporary feelings of fatigue during the day
- Feeling anxious or irritable, or experiencing short bouts of low mood or depression
Treatment Of Transient Insomnia: Many times transient insomnia resolves on its own without any medical intervention. Some people suffer transient insomnia resulting from jet lag. If you travel to and from different time zones, you may have difficulty adjusting to your usual sleep routine. If this is the case talk with your doctor. He or she may recommend an over-the-counter remedy like melatonin which may restore normal wake and sleep cycles. Other popular remedies for short-term insomnia include:
- Having a glass of warm milk before bed
- Drinking chamomile tea
- Taking a sleep aid like an antihistamine (not recommended for older adults).
What To Do If Insomnia Won't Go Away: If you find you are having trouble sleeping more often than not, you may need to seek medical care. A trained doctor can help diagnose underlying causes for insomnia including biological diseases. Make sure you have a list of your symptoms and activities readily available to review, in case your insomnia results from something you are allergic to or from habits you may not realize deprive you of sleep, like drinking too much alcohol before bedtime. With proper care most people find relief from their insomnia symptoms almost immediately, so they can once again enjoy a restful night of sleep.