Insomnia is when someone regularly has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or wakes up too early—and it starts to impact their daily life. Insomnia is not one or two difficult nights of sleep – it is an ongoing struggle that can make it hard to focus, work, go to school, or enjoy life. About 1 in 3 adults experiences insomnia at least once in a while, though people of all ages can struggle with insomnia. For some, it becomes more serious: around 10–22% of people deal with chronic insomnia, meaning the sleep problems happen several times a week and last for months. To be diagnosed with Insomnia Disorder, a person must:
- Have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early
- Experience these issues at least 3 nights a week for 3 months or more
- Feel tired, stressed, or impaired during the day because of poor sleep
- Be in a situation where they have enough time and a good environment for sleep, but still can’t get the rest they need.
Insomnia can happen because of stress, anxiety, changes in routine, or for no obvious reason at all. It can affect both mental and physical health.