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Each person experiences insomnia differently. People with insomnia may:
- Have trouble falling asleep. This can mean lying in bed for up to an hour or more, tossing and turning, waiting to fall asleep.
- Wake up and have trouble falling back to sleep.
- Wake up too early in the morning.
- Feel tired when they wake up, as if they didn't get enough sleep.
- Feel grouchy, sleepy, or anxious, and be unable to get things done during the daytime.
One Man's Story: “When I wake up at 2 or 3 in the morning, my mind starts processing stuff—things that I need to get done, that I forgot to do. Trying to relieve that anxiety seems to me a very worthwhile sleep prescription.”—Cort, 64 Read more about Cort and how he learned to cope with insomnia. |
Quality versus quantity of sleep
The quality of their day is what makes people who have insomnia different from people who generally sleep fewer hours or who have a different sleep disorder. With insomnia, you sleep so badly that you feel grouchy and perform poorly during the day. But it is possible to be a restless sleeper or to sleep less than 8 hours a night and yet get the amount of sleep you need. If you wake up refreshed with energy and are able to get things done during the day, then you are probably getting enough sleep.
Not getting enough sleep can affect your quality of life. It can lead to serious problems including injury, accidents, anxiety, and depression. Talk with your doctor if you think that you have insomnia.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: April 27, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Jan Ulfberg - Sleep Medicine | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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