What Is Insomnia, and How Do I Know If I Have It?

How To Get Better Sleep, Part 2

I hope that you enjoyed Part One of the "How to Get Better Sleep" series. If you missed it, or need a refresher, click here to read "So Who Needs Sleep, Anyways?"

In today's article we'll talk about exactly what insomnia is, and how you can tell if you have it.

Are you ready to get started?

What Is Insomnia?

Simply put, insomnia is a health condition in which a person has trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, insomnia also refers to "the inability to get the amount of sleep you as an individual need to wake up feeling refreshed."(1)

Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. Experts estimate that as many as one in every three adults worldwide suffers from insomnia at least occasionally.

What Causes Insomnia?

Determining the cause of insomnia depends on the individual situation, and on whether you have primary or secondary insomnia.

The National Institutes of Health in the United States believe that over 80 percent of all insomnia cases can be classed as secondary insomnia. This occurs when the inability to sleep is the result of, or a symptom of, another problem. Some examples would be:

Even your diet can be a cause of insomnia depending on what you eat and when you eat it.

If all of these other causes have been ruled out, and your sleeplessness has been going on for over a month, then you could be considered to have primary insomnia, or chronic insomnia. And that's a sleep disorder in its own right.

How Can I Tell If I Have Insomnia?

The obvious answer to this question is that if you have trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep then you may have some form of insomnia. But you already knew that, didn't you?

Another indication that you may have insomnia is if you still feel tired when you wake up.

Daytime sleepiness is also a good indication that you're not getting enough quality sleep at night.

Other symptoms can include having a hard time concentrating, and having feelings of anxiety, depression and general irratability.

If you think you have insomnia or any sleep disorder, the first thing you should do is talk to your doctor or health care professional. Sleep problems are serious and can have serious consequences for both your physical and mental health.

In the next several issues, I'll be giving you some tips to help you fall asleep. But I'm not a doctor, just a fellow insomniac sharing my experiences. What works for me may not necessarily work for you. So please, before you try anything, make sure you discuss it with your health care provider.

In the next issue we'll talk about creating healthy sleep habits.

Here's to a good night's sleep,

Ruth

PS... Here's something I came across in my research: Get Deep Rejuvenating Sleep and Double Your Energy - Almost Overnight!