Trouble Staying Asleep? Waking Up Frequently? You May Have Sleep Maintenance Insomnia...

Sleep maintenance insomnia is a common, irritating sleep pattern that affects millions of people. Its simple definition is this: when a person wakes up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep.

It usually affects people as they age, when they hit around 40 and beyond.

Mary Berg, 53, is a typical case. She has no problem falling asleep. What's driving her nuts is that she can't stay asleep for a full seven or eight hours. After about four hours asleep, she abruptly wakes up.

When she does, she usually starts thinking about something worrisome-bills, kids, work...you name it. And then she can't get back to sleep for one, two, sometimes three hours.

Sleep maintenance insomnia is a common sleep disorder that affects people as they age.

Mary says, "It's tough. I have a lot on my plate every day. But I find with my poor sleep most nights, waking up and fighting to get back to sleep, I'm always tired the next day. I feel like the walking dead. It definitely affects how I function."

Sound familiar? If so, you probably also suffer from sleep maintenance insomnia, which is also called sleep-interruption insomnia by sleep doctors.

5 Symptoms of Sleep Maintenance Insomnia

The sleep patterns of this type of insomnia include the following insomnia symptoms:

  1. Sleeping only a few hours, then waking up

  2. Waking up suddenly, and being unable to fall back asleep

  3. An in between state where one feels half awake while sleeping

  4. Waking up too early, and being unable to get back to sleep (this crosses over into what is known as early-morning awakening)

  5. Waking up briefly, but frequently, throughout the night

5 Sleep Maintenance Insomnia Causes

Stress and anxiety play a big role for this insomnia cause. People will often jolt awake, thinking about their problems. They stew over worries and can often experience anxiety attacks in the middle of the night.

Money issues can cause major stress. So if worrying about money is what causes insomnia for you, I have an excellent remedy for that. Click here to see my article on the Best Business to Start for Retirement Funds and Financial Freedom. Other common insomnia causes?

  • Worrying that not sleeping will make them sleepy the next day. In effect, worrying about not being able to sleep makes people not able to sleep!

  • Being depressed. Depression seems to disrupt one's ability to reach a deeper level of sleep. Click here to see a 100% natural way to reduce the feelings of depression and stress. (Link opens in a new window.)

  • Menopause and insomnia go hand in hand for thousands of women, as does perimenopause and insomnia. Many women are able to sleep better when they get a better control on their hot flashes.

  • Booze. Alcohol is one of the big insomnia causes. What happens is that initially the alcohol will fairly quickly put a person to sleep. But as the beer, wine, or hard liquor wears off, that person's consciousness will drift to the surface and they wake up.

  • Medical issues. Chronic pain—especially back pain or arthritis—asthma, sleepapnea, snoring from a partner, and restless legs syndrome can all lead to trouble staying asleep.

What to do if your partner’s snoring is waking you up

Perhaps nothing is more annoying than constantly waking up in the middle of the night because of snoring.

Why do people snore? If you’ve read my articles on snoring and sleep apnea, you know that the tongue is one of the reasons why.

It can block the throat, making breathing more difficult and snoring sounds more common.

A dentist and sleep researcher invented a funny looking plastic device that prevents the tongue from blocking the airway. This is one of the best anti snore devices on the market.

It’s called The Good Morning Snore Solution. Their website is very informative and demonstrates exactly how this snore remedy works. Click here to watch the video.

Quick note about arthritis

If joint pain is causing your sleep maintenance insomnia, here's a natural arthritis formula that may help you get relief from pain, swelling, stiffness, and inflammation. Surprisingly, customers report it also gives them better skin and a sense of wellbeing. (Link opens in a new window.)

Be sure to read the customer comments tab. Also note this product is not suitable for most vegetarians because it does contain ingredient extracts that come from shellfish.

What Can Be Done About Sleep Maintenance Insomnia?

Here are some quick insomnia tips.

If anxiety is the problem, one thing you can do is a brain dump. Take a piece of paper and pen and write down everything that's on your mind. Pour it out! This one works well for me when my mind gets cluttered and I start to get uptight about all the things I need to do. See if it helps you too.

Finish reading a novel or magazine.

Just remember, if you have sleep maintenance insomnia, when you do pop awake, think BORING. Your goal is to get sleepy. Instead of worrying, consider what you can do to bore yourself back to sleep.

Click here to see one of the best natural sleep remedies I've come across. (Link opens in a new window.)

Once you click that blue link and read about the sleep supplement, click also on the tab that says Health Concerns. Look for the insomnia link. You'll learn a lot at that website that can really help you out, whether it's depression, anxiety, or pain that's causing your sleep maintenance insomnia.

Also, in my newsletter, Sleep Chat, I've written a detailed article about a technique called Stimulus Control Instructions.

I highly recommend you read the article because it will help you with your sleep maintenance Insomnia. Click here for How To Stay Asleep Without Drugs.


Here are more articles you will find helpful

What Causes Snoring?

4 Essential Facts About Insomnia

Can't Sleep? Let's Look At What Is Insomnia, Types of Insomnia, and What Causes Insomnia

How to Fall Asleep, Part 1

How to Fall Asleep, Part 2

How to Fall Asleep Fast: Relaxation and Natural Sleeping Pills

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