People who experience insomnia typically report feeling unrefreshed when waking up, waking too early in the morning, or having trouble falling asleep at night.
What is insomnia?
Insomnia isn’t a lack of sleep now and then—it’s a real sleep disorder that affects millions of people. In fact, the APA estimates that six to eight percent of adults have symptoms severe enough for them to be diagnosed with insomnia disorder.
Insomnia and mental health are closely linked. Anxiety and depression can lead to insomnia, and insomnia can fuel the symptoms of anxiety and depression. This self-perpetuating cycle can lead to chronic insomnia.
Several anxiety and depressive disorders, such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), can result in varying degrees of insomnia.
Symptoms of insomnia:
- Difficulty falling asleep at night
- Waking up during the night
- Waking up too early
- Not feeling well-rested after a night’s sleep
- Daytime tiredness or sleepiness
- Irritability, depression or anxiety
- Difficulty paying attention, focusing on tasks or remembering
- Increased errors or accidents
- Ongoing worries about sleep