Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of people worldwide—characterized by the inability to fall or stay asleep. You might go to bed but not be able to fall asleep, or you might wake up in the middle of the night and have a hard time getting back to sleep, even though you don’t feel rested. The next day, you may be tired and moody, and you may find it hard to concentrate or to do the things you need to do in the course of your day.
Insomnia commonly leads to daytime sleepiness, lethargy and a general feeling of being unwell both mentally and physically—and can exacerbate depression, anxiety, and can impact diet and weight.
Most people have trouble getting to sleep from time to time, especially when there’s a stressful situation at work or at home. But if you have trouble sleeping three nights a week or more, for at least three months, then it may be chronic insomnia.
Insomnia can disrupt your work and private life. And you’re not alone. According to one survey by the National Sleep Foundation, more than half of all people surveyed had suffered from insomnia in the past year. What’s more, the National Institutes of Health estimates that insomnia is a problem for about 1 in 3 Americans, and that this condition disrupts day-to-day life for one person out of every ten.
