What is insomnia and how can it affect your health and productivity?

Insomnia is probably the best known of the sleep disorders as it affects about one-third of adults – and a significant number of children. Everyone who isn’t affected by insomnia knows someone who is.

Insomnia is divided into four types:

• Difficulty falling asleep.
• Frequent awakenings with inability to return to sleep.
• Waking too early with inability to return to sleep.
• Poor quality, non-restorative sleep.

Symptoms include:

• Low energy, fatigue or daytime sleepiness.
• Lack of motivation.
• Attention, concentration or memory problems.
• Irritability and mood changes.
• Poor performance at school or work.
• Distraction while driving or performing other tasks.
• Increased tension, headaches or body aches.
• Worry about sleep.
• Hyperactivity, behavioral issues and stomach aches in children.

Effects

Insomnia:

• Negatively impacts emotional regulation and relationships.
• Is a known independent risk factor for general anxiety disorder and major depression.
• Leads to absenteeism and poor work performance.
• Increases use of medical resources.