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. You may still feel tired when you wake up. There are two types of insomnia based on the regularity and duration of the sleep disturbance and daytime symptoms:

• Short-term insomnia (acute): Short-term insomnia usually lasts for up to three months and occurs in 15 to 20 percent of people. 
• Chronic insomnia (chronic): This type of insomnia occurs at least three times per week and lasts for at least three months.  About 10 percent of people have chronic insomnia.

At some point, many adults experience short-term insomnia, and is usually the result of stress or a traumatic event. But some people have long-term insomnia that lasts for a month or more. Insomnia may be the primary problem, or it may be associated with other medical conditions or medications. 

Symptoms and causes of insomnia are different for every patient. Insomnia symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Problems with attention, concentration or memory (cognitive impairment)
• Poor performance at school or work
• Moodiness or irritability
• Daytime sleepiness
• Impulsiveness or aggression
• Lack of energy or motivation
• Errors or accidents
• Concern or frustration about your sleep

 Chronic insomnia is usually a result of stress, life events or habits that disrupt sleep. Treating the underlying cause can resolve the insomnia, but sometimes it can last for years.  Causes include:

• Stress
• Travel or shift work
• Poor sleeping habits
• Eating too much late in the evening
• Mental health disorders
• Medications
• Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol
• Aging

• Good sleep hygiene
• Cognitive behavior
• Medication