More than 1.6 million U.S. adults are estimated to use complementary and alternative therapies to treat or trouble sleeping, according to the results of a national survey published in the September 18 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, a theme issue on sleep.

There are different kinds of insomnia:

Sleep Onset (Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome): A disorder in which the major sleep episode is delayed in relation to the desired clock time that results in symptoms of sleep onset or difficulty in awakening at the desired time.

Idiopathic Insomnia: A lifelong inability to obtain adequate sleep that is presumably due to an abnormality of the neurological control of the sleep-wake system. The is long-standing, commonly beginning in early childhood, sometimes since birth.

Psychophysiological Insomnia: A disorder of somatized tension (conversion of anxiety into physical symptoms) and learned sleep-preventing association that results in a complaint of and associated decreased functioning during wakefulness.

Childhood (Limit-Setting Sleep Disorder): Primarily a childhood disorder that is characterized by the inadequate enforcement of bedtimes by a caretaker with resultant stalling or refusal to go to bed at the appropriate time.

Another kind of that generally affects children is called Sleep-Onset Association Disorder. This disorder occurs when sleep onset is impaired by the absence of a certain object or set of circumstances, such as being held, rocked or nursed; television watching, radio listening, etc.

Food Allergy Insomnia: A disorder of initiating and maintaining sleep due to an allergic response to food allergens. It is typically associated with the introduction of a new food or drink, i.e., cow's milk.

Enviornmental (Enviornmental Sleep Disorder): A sleep disturbance due to a disturbing enviornmental factor that causes a complaint of either or excessive sleepiness. (How about the garbage man or the leaf blower early in the morning!?)

Transient (Adjustment Sleep Disorder): Represents sleep disturbance temporally related to acute stress, conflict or enviornmental change causing emotional agitation.

Periodic (Non 24-Hour Sleep-Wake Syndrome): Consists of a chronic (lasting a long time) steady pattern consisting of 1-2 hour daily delays in sleep onset and wake times in an individual living in society.

Altitude Insomnia: An acute (short and sharp course, not chronic) usually accompanied by headaches, loss of appetite, and fatigue, that occurs following ascent to high altitudes.

Hypnotic-Dependency (Hypnotic-Dependent Sleep Disorder): Characterized by or excessive sleepiness that is associated with tolerance to or withdrawal from hypnotic medications.

Stimulant-Dependent Sleep Disorder: Charcterized by a reduction of sleepiness or suppression of sleep by central stimulants, and resultant alterations in wakefulness following drug abstinence.

Alcohol-Dependent (Alcohol-Dependent Sleep Disorder): Characterized by the assisted initiation of sleep onset by the sustained ingestion of alcohol that is used for its hypnotic effect.

Toxin-Induced Sleep Disorder: Characterized by either or excessive sleepiness produced by poisoning with heavy metals or organic toxins.
How is treated?

Each case of is tailored for that particular person's needs. Methods used for treatment include behavioral modification, following good sleep hygiene practices, light therapy, and occasionally medication is prescribed for a short period of time.

Insomnia can be a symptom of physical disorders, although for most of us it's the result of tension, stress and anxiety-and of course the more anxious we get about our insomnia, the worse it gets. If your doctor pronounces you a "healthy" insomniac, he might suggest some of the techniques provided here. Or she might prescribe drugs to help you get to sleep.

Play some soft, soothing music that will lull you to sleep. There are even cassettes and records designed for that very purpose. Some are specially composed music, others simply have sounds of waves rhythmically breaking, or the steady pattern of a heartbeat.

Of course if you don't have a record, cassette or CD player that will automatically turn off, we don't suggest this. If you have to get up and turn it off at the end, you've obviously lost its effect.