About Insomnia
Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep at night. The millions of people worldwide who have suffered from insomnia at some point in their lives find themselves feeling unrefreshed upon waking and tired throughout the day. Insomnia can be acute, lasting for days or weeks, or chronic, an ongoing problem happening night after night. Chronic insomnia can take a toll on energy levels, mood, and ability to function during the day, and can even contribute to serious health problems.
Insomnia differs from person to person. Whereas one individual might only need 5 hours of sleep a night, another might need a full 8 hours, and therefore repeated nights of only 5 hours of sleep will impact their ability to function in the day. Insomnia can also be defined by the quality of sleep, not just the number of hours. You might “sleep” for 8 hours, but if it’s poor quality sleep leading you to feel drowsy and fatigued during the day, you may be experiencing insomnia.
In some cases, sleep problems can be resolved by making simple lifestyle changes such as reducing the amount of caffeine that is consumed during the day. However, other times, no matter how many changes are made, the problem persists.
Insomnia is usually a symptom of another problem, rather than being a disorder in and of itself. By addressing the underlying problem, you can put a stop to the frustration of insomnia and finally get a good night’s sleep. Emotional issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression cause half of all insomnia cases. Treating these underlying problems is essential to resolving your insomnia.
