If you are one of the million people around the world who lie in bed with eyes closed, hearing the 'tic-tac' of your clock all night, you are a victim of insomnia and you need immediate medical attention.
A sleep therapist or specialist can help you dig up the actual cause behind your sleep problem.
Without knowing what type of insomnia you are suffering from, it is difficult to diagnose and treat it effectively.
There are different types of insomnia based on the duration of the symptom, the reason behind and whether one has difficulty in starting or maintaining a good sleep.
In chronic insomnia, a person is unable to sleep for more than 5 or 6 hours for 2 or 3 days a week, the problem resolving for short period and re-appearing intermittently, making you feel tired for months or years and giving a false impression of a normal personal routine.
Some find it impossible to sleep for more than 3 days a week.
This is severe case of insomnia caused by special medical conditions like respiratory or nervous disorders.
It is important to have quick control over it as this can result in damages to nervous and immune system.
Insomnia is seen in women mostly during life situations of hormone level fluctuation like pregnancy, postpartum and menopause.
Starting normal sleep and waking up in the middle of night, unable to resume sleep is another type of insomnia.
In terminal insomnia, the last phase of sleep is disturbed and one lies awake long before dawn, waiting for your alarm to sound.
If your long sleepless nights have no link to any medical or psychological condition, it is termed primary insomnia, which is the toughest to treat as it is a hectic task to find out the cause.
But once the type of insomnia and the exact reason behind it is identified, it is possible to say a final goodbye to your sleepless nights.