Symptoms of Insomnia

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You may have insomnia if you:

  • Have difficulty falling asleep—Normally, it should take no more than about 30 minutes to fall asleep once in bed.
  • Have difficulty staying asleep—You wake up frequently during the night with difficulty going back to sleep.
  • Wake up too early—Waking early in the morning may be normal for “early risers.” It could be a problem, though, if this is not normal for you or if you are not getting the sleep you need.
  • Feel nonrefreshed after sleep and tired during the day—This may indicate that you are waking up during the night or not getting an adequate total number of hours of sleep.
  • Feel restless or anxious as bedtime approaches—You may be anticipating insomnia and worrying about it.
  • Other symptoms may include:
    • Fatigue or sleepiness during the day
    • Difficulty concentrating
    • Performance at work or school is suffering
    • Moodiness; feeling irritable
    • Lack of energy or motivation
    • Feeling preoccupied with thoughts of sleep

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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References

  • Insomnia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us. Updated July 9, 2012. Accessed August 13, 2012.

  • Morenthaler T, Kramer M, Alessi C, et al. Practice parameters for the psychological and behavioral treatment of insomnia: an update. An American Academy of Sleep Medicine report. Sleep. 2006;29:1415-1419.

  • National Center on Sleep Disorders Research website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/ncsdr/index.htm .

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

  • National Sleep Foundation website. Available at: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/.

  • National Sleep Foundation. Insomnia: symptoms. Available at: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-related-problems/insomnia-and-sleep. Accessed February 11, 2009.

  • Your guide to healthy sleep. National Center on Sleep Disorders Research. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. November 2005. NIH Publication No. 06-5271. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/healthy%5Fsleep.pdf . Accessed February 11, 2009.