Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesComplicationsDiagnosisTreatment and PreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Complications
Diagnosis
Treatment and Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Insomniais a commonsleep disorderthat makes it hard to fall asleep and/or remain asleep. Insomnia prevents you from getting the amount and quality of sleep you need to function normally.
Without treatment, insomnia can affect daytime alertness. It can impact your ability to think, remember, and react. It can also affect your health and disease risk.
Not everyone who struggles with insomnia has the same issues. Different types of insomnia vary in their cause, the sleep problems associated with them, and how long they occur.
This article discusses the types of insomnia, their symptoms, and how the condition is diagnosed and treated.
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Types of Insomnia
All types of insomnia interfere with getting the amount and quality of sleep you need. The effect of insufficient sleep on your body is generally the same across all types of insomnia.
Common symptoms across all types of insomnia include:
Understanding the variations of insomnia can help you identify the factors that may be causing your problem so you can work to correct them.
Acute vs. Chronic Insomnia
Acute insomniainvolves problems falling asleep or staying asleep at least three days per week for a period of between one week and three months. It is usually linked to one of the following factors:
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Chronic insomniainvolves being unable to fall asleep or stay asleep at least three days per week for a period of three months or longer.It may result when the stressors that cause acute insomnia aren’t handled.
Chronic insomnia can also occur as a symptom or side effect of one of the following conditions:
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Primary vs. Secondary Insomnia
Insomnia can also be classified based on the condition’s relationship to other issues.
Primary insomniaoccurs when your inability to sleep isn’t linked to a known cause. The fact that you can’t sleep and/or remain asleep isn’t due to a side effect of a medical condition, psychological issue, or medication.
Primary insomnia may occur due to unknown causes, though it can be linked to the effects of the following issues:
Secondary insomnia accounts for most cases of insomnia. It can be acute or chronic. Secondary insomnia occurs as a side effect or symptom of one of the following factors:
Onset vs. Maintenance Insomnia
Insomnia can be defined based on where it interferes with the naturalsleep cycle. It can prevent you from falling asleep and staying asleep.
Onset insomnia affects your ability to fall asleep at the time you wish. It is usually linked with psychological or psychiatric issues. Onset insomnia can also be a symptom secondary to a medical condition or sleep disorder.
People who have onset insomnia often have one of the following conditions, though others are possible:
Maintenance insomnia is a condition that makes it difficult to maintain sleep after you’ve fallen asleep. It occurs more often in older adults since sleep cycles change with age.
How Sleep Changes As You AgeAs you age, you spend more time in the lighter stages of sleep and less time in the deeper settings. This makes you more aware of environmental changes, such as noise. It also makes you more likely to react to physical changes, like arthritis ornocturia(nighttime urination), that occur while you sleep.
How Sleep Changes As You Age
As you age, you spend more time in the lighter stages of sleep and less time in the deeper settings. This makes you more aware of environmental changes, such as noise. It also makes you more likely to react to physical changes, like arthritis ornocturia(nighttime urination), that occur while you sleep.
Other Types of Insomnia
Other types of insomnia include the following:
Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood
Some types of insomnia are more common in children. They occur when children associate certain behaviors with falling asleep. They include:
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Idiopathic Insomnia
Idiopathic insomnia is a form of chronic insomnia. It occurs without any visible causes. It often begins in childhood and becomes a lifelong problem that occurs nightly.
Inadequate Sleep Hygiene
Inadequatesleep hygieneis a sleep disorder that occurs when you have sleep habits that interfere with sleep. This problem can develop when you don’t have a healthy bedtime routine to help you fall asleep naturally.
Paradoxical Insomnia
Paradoxical insomnia is a disorder in which you complain of getting poor sleep or not getting enough sleep, even though there is no evidence of a sleep problem.
Psychophysiological InsomniaPsychophysiological insomnia is defined as having a state of heightened arousal, worry, and anxiety about sleep and sleeplessness. Instead of falling asleep, people focus on their sleep and are concerned about not getting enough of it.
Psychophysiological insomnia is considered a learned form of insomnia. It usually occurs when you can’t sleep and then become overly concerned about getting enough sleep. Even though you may realize that your anxiety interferes with sleep, the worry increases as you remain awake.
Complications of Poor Sleep
Getting inadequate or poor sleep due to insomnia can have a dramatic impact on your physical and mental health. Without proper rest, your body and brain don’t have a chance to repair themselves. Lack of sleep can impact your overall well-being.
Insomnia can increase your risk of the following complications:
How Insomnia Is Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider may recommend that you see a sleep specialist if you complain of insomnia that doesn’t improve with lifestyle changes. To determine the cause of your sleep problems, your healthcare provider or sleep specialist may do the following:
The type of treatment your healthcare provider recommends depends on the type of insomnia you have and the cause of the problem. The condition is usually resolved when the underlying medical or psychological cause is treated.
Common treatments for insomnia include:
Summary
To treat insomnia, you must treat the cause of your sleep problems. Treatment can include cognitive behavioral therapy, medications, and lifestyle changes. Using both medical and nonmedical therapies can improve your sleep.
A sleep expert can help you find the treatment you need. Insomnia often improves or resolves when the primary cause is treated. This can help you enjoy the health and mental benefits of a good night’s sleep.
A Word From Verywell
Living with any insomnia can affect your quality of life. Without enough sleep, it’s normal to feel tired and moody throughout the day.
Chronic irritability can affect both personal and work relationships. It can also increase your risk of causing accidents as your thinking skills weaken without enough sleep.
The good news is that insomnia can often improve when you treat the cause of the problem. Consult your healthcare provider to get started on a plan to fix your sleep problems. The result can improve your health, relationships, and the way you feel.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIndividual sleep needs vary based on age, overall health, and genetics; the average adult needs seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Adults over age 65 may need less sleep, usually between seven and eight hours nightly.Learn MoreHow Much Sleep Adults Need on Average to Be RestedThe type of foods and drinks you consume can affect your ability to get quality sleep. Some foods can interfere with natural sleep patterns, leading to insomnia over time. Some foods that can affect your sleep include caffeine, black tea, sweets, white bread, nightshade vegetables, fast food and other highly processed foods, fried foods, and aged or cured foods.Learn More10 Foods That May Contribute to Your InsomniaStudies indicate a link between melatonin and quality sleep. Results show that people who took melatonin fell asleep faster and improved their sleep efficiency.While melatonin provides modest benefits, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider about the impact of melatonin on your insomnia.Learn MoreThe Health Benefits of Melatonin
Individual sleep needs vary based on age, overall health, and genetics; the average adult needs seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Adults over age 65 may need less sleep, usually between seven and eight hours nightly.Learn MoreHow Much Sleep Adults Need on Average to Be Rested
Individual sleep needs vary based on age, overall health, and genetics; the average adult needs seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Adults over age 65 may need less sleep, usually between seven and eight hours nightly.
Learn MoreHow Much Sleep Adults Need on Average to Be Rested
The type of foods and drinks you consume can affect your ability to get quality sleep. Some foods can interfere with natural sleep patterns, leading to insomnia over time. Some foods that can affect your sleep include caffeine, black tea, sweets, white bread, nightshade vegetables, fast food and other highly processed foods, fried foods, and aged or cured foods.Learn More10 Foods That May Contribute to Your Insomnia
The type of foods and drinks you consume can affect your ability to get quality sleep. Some foods can interfere with natural sleep patterns, leading to insomnia over time. Some foods that can affect your sleep include caffeine, black tea, sweets, white bread, nightshade vegetables, fast food and other highly processed foods, fried foods, and aged or cured foods.
Learn More10 Foods That May Contribute to Your Insomnia
Studies indicate a link between melatonin and quality sleep. Results show that people who took melatonin fell asleep faster and improved their sleep efficiency.While melatonin provides modest benefits, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider about the impact of melatonin on your insomnia.Learn MoreThe Health Benefits of Melatonin
Studies indicate a link between melatonin and quality sleep. Results show that people who took melatonin fell asleep faster and improved their sleep efficiency.While melatonin provides modest benefits, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider about the impact of melatonin on your insomnia.
Learn MoreThe Health Benefits of Melatonin
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Association of Sleep Medicine.What is Insomnia?MedlinePlus.Insomnia.UpToDate.Patient education: insomnia (beyond the basics).Vargas I, Nguyen AM, Muench A, Bastien CH, Ellis JG, Perlis ML.Acute and chronic insomnia: what has time and/or hyperarousal got to do with it?Brain Sci. 2020;10(2):71. doi:10.3390/brainsci10020071Krystal AD, Ashbrook LH, Prather AA.What is insomnia?JAMA. 2021;326(23):2444. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19283National Alliance on Mental Illness.Sleep disorders.Fiorentino L, Martin JL.Awake at 4 a.m. : treatment of insomnia with early morning awakenings among older adults.J Clin Psychol. 2010;66(11):1161-1174. doi:10.1002/jclp.20734Park HS, Joo EY, Hong SB.Sleep onset Insomnia.Journal of Korean Sleep Research Society. 2009;6(2):74-85. doi: 10.13078/jksrs09015American Association of Sleep Medicine.Insomnia.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Insomnia.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is insomnia?American Family Physician.Insomnia Treatment.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. National Institutes of Health.Melatonin: what you need to know.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Association of Sleep Medicine.What is Insomnia?MedlinePlus.Insomnia.UpToDate.Patient education: insomnia (beyond the basics).Vargas I, Nguyen AM, Muench A, Bastien CH, Ellis JG, Perlis ML.Acute and chronic insomnia: what has time and/or hyperarousal got to do with it?Brain Sci. 2020;10(2):71. doi:10.3390/brainsci10020071Krystal AD, Ashbrook LH, Prather AA.What is insomnia?JAMA. 2021;326(23):2444. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19283National Alliance on Mental Illness.Sleep disorders.Fiorentino L, Martin JL.Awake at 4 a.m. : treatment of insomnia with early morning awakenings among older adults.J Clin Psychol. 2010;66(11):1161-1174. doi:10.1002/jclp.20734Park HS, Joo EY, Hong SB.Sleep onset Insomnia.Journal of Korean Sleep Research Society. 2009;6(2):74-85. doi: 10.13078/jksrs09015American Association of Sleep Medicine.Insomnia.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Insomnia.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is insomnia?American Family Physician.Insomnia Treatment.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. National Institutes of Health.Melatonin: what you need to know.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Association of Sleep Medicine.What is Insomnia?MedlinePlus.Insomnia.UpToDate.Patient education: insomnia (beyond the basics).Vargas I, Nguyen AM, Muench A, Bastien CH, Ellis JG, Perlis ML.Acute and chronic insomnia: what has time and/or hyperarousal got to do with it?Brain Sci. 2020;10(2):71. doi:10.3390/brainsci10020071Krystal AD, Ashbrook LH, Prather AA.What is insomnia?JAMA. 2021;326(23):2444. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19283National Alliance on Mental Illness.Sleep disorders.Fiorentino L, Martin JL.Awake at 4 a.m. : treatment of insomnia with early morning awakenings among older adults.J Clin Psychol. 2010;66(11):1161-1174. doi:10.1002/jclp.20734Park HS, Joo EY, Hong SB.Sleep onset Insomnia.Journal of Korean Sleep Research Society. 2009;6(2):74-85. doi: 10.13078/jksrs09015American Association of Sleep Medicine.Insomnia.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Insomnia.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is insomnia?American Family Physician.Insomnia Treatment.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. National Institutes of Health.Melatonin: what you need to know.
American Association of Sleep Medicine.What is Insomnia?
MedlinePlus.Insomnia.
UpToDate.Patient education: insomnia (beyond the basics).
Vargas I, Nguyen AM, Muench A, Bastien CH, Ellis JG, Perlis ML.Acute and chronic insomnia: what has time and/or hyperarousal got to do with it?Brain Sci. 2020;10(2):71. doi:10.3390/brainsci10020071
Krystal AD, Ashbrook LH, Prather AA.What is insomnia?JAMA. 2021;326(23):2444. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19283
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Sleep disorders.
Fiorentino L, Martin JL.Awake at 4 a.m. : treatment of insomnia with early morning awakenings among older adults.J Clin Psychol. 2010;66(11):1161-1174. doi:10.1002/jclp.20734
Park HS, Joo EY, Hong SB.Sleep onset Insomnia.Journal of Korean Sleep Research Society. 2009;6(2):74-85. doi: 10.13078/jksrs09015
American Association of Sleep Medicine.Insomnia.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Insomnia.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is insomnia?
American Family Physician.Insomnia Treatment.
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