People with insomnia have troubles falling asleep, staying asleep or may wake up too early in the morning. Symptoms of insomnia can include:
- Excessive sleepiness or lack of energy during the day
- Problems with memory or focusing on tasks
- Irritability or feeling depressed or anxious
Insomnia can be a disorder of its own or it can be the symptom or side effect of another problem. Some of the problems that can cause insomnia include:
- Psychological factors such as depression or stress
- Pain from other illnesses or conditions
- Misuse of alcohol or sleeping pills
- Leg movements or breathing disorders from other sleep disorders
- Jet lag after a trip, a change in work schedules, or some other disruption in your daily living schedule.
People suffering from insomnia should talk with their healthcare provider. For people with mild insomnia, the answer to a better night’s sleep may be as simple as practicing good sleep habits. Learn more about healthy sleep habits.
If the cause of insomnia is unclear, the doctor may recommend a sleep study. The Gundersen Sleep Center has 10 multi-function sleep study suites to help diagnose sleep problems.