Are you having difficulty sleeping? Although nearly everyone has trouble falling or staying asleep once in a while, once it begins to occur on a regular basis it can really affect your life. This is when your sleeping problems become a sleeping disorder.

Because there are so many causes of sleeping disorders, one of the challenges of treating deep seated sleeping problems is figuring out what the cause is. Because we live in such a fast paced society, many people ignore their symptoms and fail to treat their insomnia as anything serious. In some cases, you may tell yourself to just “get more sleep,” but as anyone who has experienced ongoing sleeping problems will tell you, this is often easier said than done.

To successfully treat sleeping disorders you need to take steps to recognize what is causing you to have difficulty sleeping in the first place. Once you have figured this out you can make a concerted effort to fix what is causing your insomnia. If you don’t take action the only thing that will pass is time, while you become more and more exhausted. Then you may be tempted to turn to drugs or other quick fixes to help you sleep, which can cause problems of their own.

In this article we’re going to examine the most common sleep disorders. This will help you to identify what is causing your sleeping problems so you can make a plan to deal with it.

Insomnia: Of all the causes of sleeping disorders, insomnia is probably the best known. Insomnia is defined by experiencing sleepless nights. You may have difficulty falling to sleep and/or staying asleep and as a result, you often wake up feeling tired. A common warning sign is constant fatigue. This can lead to irritability, drowsiness, and daytime sleepiness.

Sleep Apnea: Though there are three types of sleep apnea, the most common is “obstructive sleep apnea,” which occurs when enough air isn’t able to get through your mouth and or nose and into your lungs. As a result, your breathing will grow shallow and in some cases, cease completely – at least for a few seconds. This tells your body to re-trigger the breathing process, so you may snort, cough, or snore.

You’ll resume sleeping, but since it’s been interrupted your quality of sleep has been compromised and you’ll begin seeing signs of sleep deprivation. Something to note is that not everyone who snores suffers from sleep apnea.

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): If you suffer from RLS, you’re literally unable to rest your legs, just as the name implies. For a number of reasons – including a burning, crawling, or tingling sensation – you may feel the need to attend to your legs. By moving them, the sensation is addressed, but the result is a restless sleep.

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD): Similar to RLS, if you have PLMD, then you move often during sleep. However, unlike RLS, the movement is involuntary. The limbs move periodically in twitches or jerks. This usually takes place in the legs, but for some, the arms are also affected. These movements – though you may be unaware of them – lead to a restless sleep. Upon waking up, the deprivation is made apparent through the moodiness, fatigue, or drowsiness that you feel.

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS): If you’re suffering from DSPS, it seems as if your circadian rhythm (your internal 24-hour cycle) is off by half a day and you’re unable to sleep during nighttime hours. As a result, you need to sleep during the day, which can seriously interfere with your lifestyle – from work to quality time spent with the family.

Narcolepsy: A dangerous disorder defined by excessive sleepiness during the daytime, as well as periods when the body’s muscles are weakened into a state of cataplexy. You’re at risk when you’re doing everyday tasks, like driving a car from Point A to Point B, since a narcoleptic attack could occur at any time.

In addition to these sleeping disorders, there are also others – such as snoring, seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D.), night terrors, and sleepwalking. All of them can lead to sleep deprivation and each is sure to have a physical, mental, or emotional impact on your life.

If you are having sleeping problems you need to find out if you are being affected by a sleeping disorder. If one of these sleeping disorders is present, after you identify it you need to address the cause of you having difficulty sleeping quickly. You may find that you, like most people, need to try a few different methods to find a solution that works best for you.

You don’t have to continue to suffer with any of these sleeping disorders. If you are experiencing sleeping problems consult your physician or a sleep specialist. With their help you can overcome your difficulty sleeping and begin leading an energy filled life again!

Wil Dieck is the founder of Total Mind Therapy and author of an e-Course “Overcoming Insomnia” that you can have at absolutely no charge. Drop by http://howtosleepinfo.com/ for your copy today.