Insomnia Disorder

Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which you have trouble falling and/or staying asleep.

  • Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep or causes you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. This disorder causes you to still feel tired when you wake up. Insomnia can't have negative effects on your energy level, mood, health, work performance and quality of life.
  • The condition can be short-term (acute) or it can last a long time (chronic). It can also come and go.  

Symptoms

  • Difficulty falling asleep at night
  • Waking up during the night
  • Waking up too early  
  • Not feeling well-rested after a night’s sleep
  • Irritability
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Increased errors or accidents  
  • Difficulty focusing on tasks
  • Difficulty paying attention
  • Ongoing worries about sleep

Causes:

  • Insomnia may be the primary problem, or it may be associated with other conditions.
  • Chronic insomnia is usually a result of stress, life events or habits that disrupt sleep.  
  • Chronic insomnia can also be related to other medical conditions or the use of certain drugs.

Prevalence

Various studies worldwide have shown the prevalence of insomnia in 10%-30% of the population. Some studies showed numbers as high as 50%-60% of the population.

Prognosis

People with insomnia might sleep better after changing daytime and nighttime behaviors. When these changes don’t help, therapy or medications can improve slumber. A study tracked more than 1,400 adults nationwide for a year and the results showed that 75% of those who dealt with acute insomnia recovered good sleep within 12 months. However, 22% remained poor sleepers with recurring insomnia.

When to seek help

If insomnia makes it hard for you to function during the day and gets in the way of your performance and your daily tasks, you should seek help to identify the cause of your sleep problem and how it can be treated.

Treatment

  • Changing your sleep habits and addressing issues that might be associated with insomnia such as stress, medicatiations or medical conditions might be enough for some people to restore restful sleep.  
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I): this is the most recommended treatment for people with insomnia. CBT-I teaches you to recognize and change beliefs that affect your ability to sleep. It can help you control or eliminate negative thoughts and worries that keep you awake. The behavioural part of CBT-I helps you develop good sleeping habits and avoid behaviours that keep you from sleeping well.
  • Prescription medications can also be used to help you get to sleep, stay asleep or both. However, medications are not recommended for long-term use.