When Sleep Breaks Down: Recognizing Insomnia and Rebuilding Rest
Typical Human Sleep Hypnogram: Progression of Sleep Stages Across Five Cycles (Light Sleep, Deep Sleep, and Increasing REM) What Insomnia Is Insomnia is a common sleep disorder marked by ongoing difficulty sleeping despite having enough time and opportunity. Symptoms fall into two groups: nighttime sleep problems and daytime consequences. Nighttime Symptoms Trouble falling asleep (taking >20–30 minutes). Trouble staying asleep with frequent awakenings. Waking too early and unable to return to sleep. Sleep that feels unrefreshing or poor‑quality. For a formal diagnosis, symptoms occur ≥3 nights/week for ≥3 months and cause distress or impairment. Daytime Symptoms Fatigue, low energy, or sleepiness. Difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, slower thinking, or more mistakes. Irritability, anxiety, low mood, or frustration about sleep. Reduced motivation, productivity, or performance; higher accident risk. Physical discomforts like headaches, tension, stomach issues, or feeling unwell. ...