Insomnia

What is insomnia?

Insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, involves problems getting to sleep or staying asleep. About one-third of adults report some insomnia symptoms, 10-15 percent report problems with functioning during the daytime and 6-10 percent have symptoms severe enough to meet criteria for insomnia disorder.

To be diagnosed with insomnia disorder, the sleep difficulties must occur at least three nights a week for at least three months and cause significant distress or problems at work, school or other important areas of a person's daily functioning. Not all individuals with sleep disturbances are distressed or have problems functioning.

Sleep problems can occur at any age but most commonly start in young adulthood. The type of insomnia often varies with age. Problems getting to sleep are more common among young adults. Problems staying asleep are more common among middle-age and older adults.

Symptoms of insomnia can be:

• Episodic (with an episode of symptoms lasting one to three months)

• Persistent (with symptoms lasting three months or more)

• Recurrent (with two or more episodes within a year)

Symptoms of insomnia can also be brought on by a specific life event or situation.

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/sleep-disorders/what-are-sleep-disorders