Insomnia is classified as the inability to fall asleep or remain asleep. It is the most common sleep disorder in the United States.
Causes
Insomnia can be caused by either physical conditions (e.g. restless leg syndrome) mental conditions (e.g. depression, anxiety), or external factors (e.g. as alcohol use, caffeine consumption).
Symptoms
People who have insomnia often experience these symptoms. They also sometimes tend to have self-fulfilling thoughts– i.e. they tend to think about not getting enough sleep, causing frustration, distress and further sleep difficulties.
Diagnosis
Your health care provider will do a physical exam and ask you questions about your current medications, drug use, and medical history. Usually, these are the only methods needed to diagnose insomnia. However, sometimes an overnight sleep study can help rule out other types of sleep disorders.
Treatment
Treatment is most commonly through behavioral approaches and prescription medications called hypnotics. Medications are only a short term solution and the most important thing when treating insomnia is developing good sleep practices. Try some of the following tips if you think you might be experiencing insomnia:
For more sleep tips, see Do's and Don'ts of Sleep.