Insomnia is a sleep problem that makes it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep, or get enough restful and restorative sleep. 

Common options include over-the-counter sleep aids (e.g., diphenhydramine), prescription medications like benzodiazepines, and newer medications like Artvigil 150mg and Waklert 150mg.

What Is Insomnia? 

Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which you have trouble going asleep, staying asleep, or both, even if you have plenty of time to sleep and your bedroom is quiet and dark. In order to be diagnosed with insomnia, sleep problems must also cause problems during the day, like being tired or having trouble focusing.

Up to two-thirds of people sometimes have trouble sleeping. These times when you can't sleep may or may not meet the standards for a formal diagnosis of insomnia. This depends on how long they last and whether or not they make you feel bad or get in the way of your daily life. But anyone who is worried about their sleep should talk to a doctor or nurse about it so that they can get the right diagnosis and care.

A doctor can ask you questions to learn more about your situation and order tests to find out if you really do have sleeplessness. Because the signs of insomnia can be the same as those of other sleep problems, it's best to work with a professional instead of trying to figure out what's wrong on your own.

Types of Insomnia

The two main types of insomnia are acute insomnia and chronic insomnia. Acute insomnia describes sleep difficulties that last for a few days or weeks, but not longer than three months. Short-term insomnia can often be traced to an external cause or life stressor like divorce, the death of a loved one, or a major illness. If acute insomnia persists over multiple months, it becomes classified as chronic insomnia.

Chronic insomnia is when a person experiences sleeping difficulties and related daytime symptoms, like sleepiness and attention issues, at least three days per week for longer than three months. It is estimated that about 10% to 15% of people have chronic insomnia.

People with chronic insomnia commonly feel distressed about their inability to sleep and the daytime symptoms caused by those sleep issues. Symptoms are generally severe enough to affect a person’s work or school performance as well as their social or family life.

Symptoms of Insomnia

The symptoms of insomnia include various sleep-related difficulties and daytime problems. Common sleep issues that can signal the presence of insomnia include:

• Trouble falling asleep
• Trouble staying asleep throughout the night
• Unwanted early morning waking
• Resisting sleeping at bedtime in children and teens
• Difficulty sleeping without a caregiver’s help in children and teens

In addition, insomnia causes daytime symptoms related to sleep loss. Those with insomnia often report feeling fatigued during waking hours, which may lead to impaired attention or memory. Insomnia-related sleepiness can affect work, school or social performance, and increase the risk of accidents. Insomnia has the potential to negatively influence behavioral health and may contribute to instances of irritability, hyperactivity, or aggressiveness, especially in children.