Insomnia describes any episode of unrefreshing sleep, difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, or waking up too early in the morning. Women and the elderly are the most frequent victims. To overcome your insomnia, your first move is to classify the type you are battling, because each type presents unique challenges and calls for different treatment.

Insomnia can be classified as transient (short term), intermittent (on and off), and chronic (constant). Insomnia lasting from a single night to a few weeks is referred to as transient. If episodes of transient insomnia occur from time to time, the insomnia is said to be intermittent. Insomnia is considered to be chronic if it occurs on most nights and lasts a month or more.

The most common types of insomnia -- transient and intermittent -- may go away on their own or with a doctor's prescription of sleeping pills. Transient insomnia may last from one night to a few weeks. You may have intermittent insomnia if you experience transient insomnia every so often. Chronic insomnia lasts a month or more and may be treated with relaxation therapy, reconditioning, sleep restriction or sleeping pills.

Transient insomnia

Transient insomnia is a disturbance in sleeping patterns which lasts for a few nights only. In this case, you are a princess who has a brief run-in with a frustrating pea such as: jet lag, excitement, stress, illness, or a change in sleep schedule.

Transient insomnia occurs when you can't sleep because of something specific but short-lived - like you're falling in love, or you're coming down with a cold, or you've got a big meeting in the morning or you're over-stimulated by attending a great concert performance.

Here is the good news: those with transient insomnia soon return back to normal, and sleeping pills ease the course of the problem. While not conducive to long-term use, in the short term sleeping pills provide relief without fear of dependence or a gradual loss of their effectiveness.

Intermittent insomnia

Intermittent insomnia is slightly more serious because it persists for about 2-3 weeks. Contributing factors include a job change, divorce, serious illness, financial problems, or the death of a close friend/relative. You may have problems at home or work and they're disturbing your sleep - or you're pregnant and downright uncomfortable. But once the root problem is resolved, the insomnia disappears too.

Chronic insomnia

Chronic insomnia is the rarest and most serious type, with episodes lasting longer than a few weeks. In spite of this, 10-15% of the US population suffers from it. You are sleep deprived often, perhaps always. There may be underlying physical/medical reasons for your insomnia - such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, asthma, chronic sinusitis, epilepsy or ulcers. Other factors might include drug or alcohol abuse, excessive caffeine intake or abuse of sleeping pills. And there may be underlying emotional/psychological factors, such as anxiety or depression. In any of these cases, professional treatment is the only sensible way to deal with chronic insomnia and that should start with a visit to your medical doctor.