4Insomnia is one of the most difficult mental health afflictions to overcome, and can also be the most detrimental to living a productive and healthy life. Primary insomnia is arguably the most frustrating type because it lacks an underlying cause; in other words, insomnia is a condition rather than a symptom of another problem. Fortunately, however, the indices of primary insomnia are fairly straight-forward.
- Identifying Psychophysiological Primary InsomniaUnderstand that psychophysiological insomnia is a form of primary insomnia that is caused by a faulty mind-body connection. The body responds to psychological stimuli, such as stress and depression, with an inability to slee.. This is perhaps the easiest to cure because the cause is psychological in nature.Observe the patient for signs of chronic sleep disturbance. In psychophysiological primary insomnia, the patient will wake up numerous times during the night, sometimes only for a few moments, but more often for several minutes. There might be times when the patient can't fall back to sleep for several hours.Look for signs of difficulty falling asleep. Although sleep disturbance is more common in psychophysiological insomnia, primary insomnia can also present as an inability to fall asleep at all. The patient might lay awake for hours, and may or may not feel drowsy at bedtime.Ask the patient if he has trouble falling asleep regardless of where he is staying. Many people who suffer from primary insomnia have difficulty falling asleep in their own beds, but will experience restful sleep when they stay somewhere else, such as a relative's house or a hotel. This is particularly common in the psychophysiological form.Find out if the patient suffers from anxiety when performing bedtime routines. Brushing her teeth, washing her face, combing her hair or even taking a shower might increase the symptoms of primary insomnia and cause immediate restlessness. Again, this is a psychological factor.Identifying Idiopathic Primary InsomniaRealize that idiopathic primary insomnia is sleeplessness or sleep disturbance that is solely physical in nature, though it can have psychological symptoms, and may be present from childhood on. Many psychologists believe that this condition is hereditary, as it is often present in multiple family members.Ask the patient how long he has been experiencing the symptoms. In most cases, idiopathic primary insomnia begins early in life, and may occur sporadically over the years. Although it is rarely constant, the symptoms may present for months or even years at a time.Find out if the patient suffers from lack of concentration during waking hours. An inability to focus on a task may be interspersed with periods of hyperactivity, and although this can be a symptom of primary insomnia, it is often present from the beginning.Talk to friends and relatives of the patient. Does she often compartmentalize her life or withdraw emotionally from difficult situations? Many people who suffer from idiopathic primary insomnia will have difficulty expressing their emotions and will tend to repress psychological issues.Determine whether the patient exhibits normal reactions to over-the-counter and prescription medications. One of the main symptoms of idiopathic primary insomnia is opposite or inconsistent reactions to drugs, particularly when a medication is supposed to induce drowsiness. Instead, the patient is overwhelmed by hyperactivity.
