What are the symptoms of insomnia?

There are two basic forms of insomnia. In sleep-onset insomnia, a person has a difficult time falling asleep. In sleep-maintenance insomnia, a person suffers from frequent or early awakening.

You may be surprised at how broad the definition can be. Insomnia can include several difficulties related to sleep. For some people, it may involve an inability to fall asleep. For others, insomnia may be more about struggling to stay asleep throughout the night. People coping with insomnia may also wake in the morning already feeling tired -- missing the feeling of being refreshed and restored from a night of sound sleep. Any of these problems -- or a combination of them -- can be considered insomnia. Its effects can linger throughout the day, in fatigue, concentration problems, difficulty with memory and irritability.

The main signs and symptoms of insomnia are trouble getting or staying asleep, or waking early, followed by a distinct feeling of fatigue (tiredness) the following day. Most often, daytime symptoms will bring people to seek medical attention. Daytime problems caused by insomnia include anxiousness, irritability, fatigue (tiredness), poor concentration and focus, difficulty with memory, impaired motor coordination, irritability and impaired social interaction, and motor vehicle accidents because of fatigued, sleep-deprived drivers.

You should read product labels, and discuss all therapies with a qualified healthcare provider. Natural Standard information does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that includes one or more of the following symptoms:

• Having difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Waking up frequently during the night
• Waking up too early in the morning
• Waking up feeling unrefreshed

Insomnia often leads to sleep deprivation, which causes you not only to be tired but also to feel irritable and lethargic and have difficulty focusing on tasks.

People with insomnia may also become anxious about sleeping. They worry about not getting enough rest; for some, just getting ready for bed makes them tense and uneasy. And, not surprisingly, these feelings make falling asleep enormously difficult.

Take the RealAge Test!

Each person experiences insomnia differently. People with insomnia may:

• Have trouble falling asleep. This can mean lying in bed for up to an hour or more, tossing and turning, waiting to fall asleep.
• Wake up and have trouble falling back to sleep.
• Wake up too early in the morning.
• Feel tired when they wake up, as if they didn't get enough sleep.
• Feel grouchy, sleepy or anxious, and be unable to get things done during the daytime.

• One Man's Story:

  "When I wake up at 2 or 3 in the morning, my mind starts processing stuff—things that I need to get done, that I forgot to do. Trying to relieve that anxiety seems to me a very worthwhile sleep prescription."— Cort, 64

Quality versus quantity of sleep

The quality of their day is what makes people who have insomnia different from people who typically sleep fewer hours or who have a different sleep disorder. With insomnia, you sleep so badly that you feel grouchy and perform poorly during the day. But it is possible to be a restless sleeper or to sleep less than 8 hours a night and yet get the amount of sleep you need. If you wake up refreshed with energy and are able to get things done during the day, then you are probably getting enough sleep.

Not getting enough sleep can affect your quality of life. It can lead to serious problems including injury, accidents, anxiety, and depression. Talk with your doctor if you think that you have insomnia.