Understanding Insomnia
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep.
Key Fact: Insomnia can sap not only your energy level and mood but also your health, work performance, and quality of life.
Common Symptoms
Difficulty Falling Asleep
Lying awake for long periods before being able to drift off.
Waking During Night
Frequent awakenings during the night and trouble returning to sleep.
Daytime Sleepiness
Feeling tired or irritable during the day due to lack of quality sleep.
Focus Issues
Difficulty concentrating or remembering things during daily activities.
Risk Factors
- High stress levels
- Irregular sleep schedule (shift work)
- Mental health disorders (anxiety, depression)
- Certain medications
Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosis
Diagnosis involves a sleep history and sometimes a sleep study in a lab to rule out other disorders.
Sleep Diary
Actigraphy
Polysomnography (Sleep Study)
Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Common Treatments
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-I): A structured program that helps you identify and replace thoughts that cause sleep problems.
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Sleep Hygiene: Developing healthy sleep habits and a consistent bedtime routine.
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Short-term Sleep Meds: Prescription sleep aids used temporarily to help restore a sleep cycle.