Overview
Insomnia means regular trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early and not feeling rested. Short spells are common during stress and usually pass. When poor sleep lasts for weeks or months it drains energy, mood and concentration and can worsen other health problems. Most insomnia improves with better sleep habits and by treating the stress, anxiety or pain behind it, rather than with long-term sleeping pills.
Symptoms
- Difficulty falling asleep at night
- Waking often during the night or too early
- Not feeling refreshed after sleep
- Daytime tiredness, irritability or poor focus
- Worry about sleep that makes it harder to sleep
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if poor sleep lasts more than a few weeks or affects your daytime functioning, mood or health.
Causes
Stress and anxiety, irregular sleep times, screens and caffeine late at night, pain, depression, and some medicines.