Your initial visit to your doctor because you are suffering from insomnia might be a little intimidating. Doctors are reluctant to prescribe sleep medications without knowing the cause for the insomnia. There is always an underlying cause, and some of the causes for insomnia can be rather serious.



If your insomnia is eventually diagnosed as primary insomnia (that is, that it is NOT being caused by a physical disorder), your doctor will likely refer you to a sleep therapist, who will teach you muscle relaxation techniques and discuss such topics as hygiene. The doctor might prescribe sleep medications if he thinks that they are appropriate.

If your insomnia is determined to be secondary insomnia (that is, that it is caused by a physical disorder) your doctor will treat the physical problem and the insomnia will resolve itself. Some physical disorders that can and often do cause insomnia are sleep apnea syndrome, restless leg syndrome, asthma, heartburn, cancer, and arthritis.

Some tests that your doctor might ask for when he is diagnosing the cause for your insomnia are polysomnography, actigraphy, or psychological testing. According to the encyclopedia:

"Polysomnography is a diagnostic test during which a number of physiologic variables are measured and recorded during sleep."

"Actigraphy is a method of activity and sleep study achieved by mounting a small actigraph unit on a patient for an extended period of time."

"Psychological is an academic/ applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior."