Insomnia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

What is insomnia?

Insomnia is a condition in which sleep abnormalities cause a variety of social disturbances.

Disruptions in the rhythm of life and worry can make it difficult to fall asleep or to stay asleep.
Insomnia is classified into three categories: Initial Insomnia, Middle Insomnia, Terminal Insomnia, although some people may exhibit more than one symptom.

・Initial Insomnia
Initial insomnia is defined as the inability or difficulty to fall asleep.

・Middle Insomnia
Middle insomnia is when you awaken during the night and cannot fall back asleep. Ironically, people with higher daytime fatigue are more likely to experience middle insomnia.

・Terminal Insomnia
Terminal insomnia is simply waking up too early.

What is chronic insomnia?

Many people experience temporary insomnia that lasts from a few days to several weeks after encountering a highly stressful event. In some individuals, however, insomnia persists for a month or more.

If insomnia persists for more than three days a week for more than three months, the patient may have chronic insomnia that requires treatment.
Insomnia may occur alone or in association with psychiatric or physical illness.

Why is insomnia not cured?

The following factors are believed to contribute to the chronicity of insomnia. In contrast, early correction of these factors is the key to preventing chronic insomnia.

1) Inappropriate sleeping habits: Ingesting caffeine (green tea, black tea, coffee) or nicotine (cigarettes) in an attempt to relax before bed can actually interfere with sleep due to the stimulant effects of these substances. Alcohol has a stimulant effect on falling asleep, but it also stimulates arousal during the night when the alcohol is withdrawn, increasing the number of mid-morning awakenings.

(2) Mismatch in bedtime: Staying in bed longer than usual to catch up on sleep is not appropriate for several reasons.
　First, the amount of sleep each person gets per night and the timing of falling asleep are different for each person. If you stay in bed longer than usual, you are more likely to fall asleep and wake up in the middle of the night. In addition, if you go to bed earlier than usual but cannot fall asleep, spending time on the floor feeling frustrated and anxious will further worsen your ability to fall asleep.

(3) Decreased daytime activity: Persistent insomnia can lead to low motivation and mood swings, which tend to decrease the amount of activity during the day. However, reduced activity during the day makes it more difficult to fall asleep and to stay asleep. The more we move our bodies and brains as much as possible while awake, the more we need to sleep, which promotes good sleep that helps us recover from fatigue and consolidate learning.

(4) Sleep state misperception: In chronic insomnia, actual (objective) sleep duration may not match subjective sleep duration, and subjective sleep duration may seem very short. In this case, actively shortening rather than enriching the sleep duration may be helpful in resolving the insomnia.

What is the treatment for insomnia?

　The more one tries to sleep out of fear of not being able to sleep, the worse the insomnia tends to get. Treatment for chronic insomnia begins with a review of the aforementioned inappropriate sleep habits and coping strategies. If a person has trouble falling asleep, it may be helpful to leave the bed, relax, and then return to bed when sleepiness returns. Even if sleep is inadequate, waking up at a regular time will help the body’s ability to rest and promote sleep the next day. If insomnia persists, shortening the bedtime rather than the usual bedtime will “concentrate” sleep and make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.

　The most commonly used treatment is with sleeping pills. Some promote the function of the brain’s inhibitory system, some help the brain’s sleep hormones, and some suppress the brain’s waking system. Sleeping pills should be used on a short-term, adjunctive basis after a review of sleep habits and coping strategies, but long-term use may be necessary in some cases. In such cases, the patient should follow the judgment of the attending physician and continue to use the medication in accordance with the prescribed usage and dosage.

Feature of Holiday-Pill

✓ For those traveling or staying in Japan
✓ Various types of regular medicines available
✓ Easy to apply for, smooth Telemedicine
✓ Pick up pills by Delivery or at clinic near Akihabara in Tokyo.
✓ Available in English

To apply for a online consultation, contact us on our LINE below button.

Currently open on regular schedule.
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After consultation, you can get medications immediately.
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Simple and smooth Online service through in English.
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We can also provide pills by delivery if you wish.

Reception hours are longer into the evening, for your convenience.

Clinic schedule

Flow of our clinic

1. Apply from LINE

２. Phone Consultation

3. Recieve the Pills by direct pick-up or delivery.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Do I need an insurance card? Will there be a record of its use?
A.As the treatment is self-funded, there is no need to present it.

Q.Is it possible to pick up the medication on the same day?
A.Yes, it is possible to receive the medication on the same day, although you need to come and pick it up in person at the operating clinic (5 minutes walk from Akihabara/Kanda Station, Tokyo) . When sending by post, same-day delivery is possible if you can consult ,before weekday:15:30, weekend:16:30 but please check the schedule.

Q.Is there a specified delivery area?
A. Basically, we can deliver throughout Japan (delivery from Tokyo).

Q.When and how do I make payment?
A.Payment is made at the time of prescription when you visit the clinic. Cash, credit card, ID and QUICPay payments are accepted. Credit card payment is available for delivery.

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How can we help you?

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Director / Physician
Yuki Kakehashi