What Is Insomnia ?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. People with this sleep disorder have one or more of the following insomnia symptoms:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
• Waking up too early in the morning
• Feeling tired upon waking
• Sleepiness during the day
• Irritability and problems with concentration or memory

Insomnia can cause problems during the day, such as excessive sleepiness, fatigue, trouble thinking clearly or staying focused, or feeling depressed or irritable. It is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night.

Although the amount of sleep a person needs varies, most people need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night.