Any insomnia that lasts long-term is considered chronic and usually occurs in connection with somatic or mental illnesses. Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by inability to fall asleep for a considerable period of time at night.

The majority of the women that are searching for a menopause treatment are either in their pre-menopause or menopause years and tend to be suffering with these kinds of symptoms, chronic insomnia, hot flashes, night sweats, migraines, anxiety, fatigue and depression.  A few of these symptoms occur simultaneously whenever a female’s estrogen level drop

Currently it is judged that chronic insomnia in 80-90% of cases is connected to affective disorders - depression or anxiety disorders.

The symptoms necessary to diagnose chronic insomnia are as follows and should last for at least 1 month:

• complaints about difficulty falling asleep and / or poor quality sleep
• sleep disturbances observed at least 3 times a week
• concerns about sleeplessness and its consequences (at night and during the day)
• distress or disturbance of social and occupational functioning due to inadequate duration and / or quality of sleep

Usually a patient with chronic disorder develops a sort of neurosis of sleep when a person trying to sleep, begins to worry thinking that he / she will not succeed. This creates anxiety that, in turn, does not allow the patient to fall asleep.

Chronic insomnia may be:

• a risk factor for mental disorders, especially depression
• a prodromal symptom of depression
• a consequence or complication of depression

Chronic insomnia should be treated by psychotherapeutic techniques and medicines like benzodiazepine and non- benzodiazepine hypnotics (Zopiclone). Also, antidepressants may be a useful help in treating chronic insomnia. Besides medicines, chronic insomnia can be also treated with psychotherapeutic exercises which help falling asleep quickly and have a deep sleep. In addition, the cause of the chronic insomnia like physical or mental disease, should be combated as well.