What is insomnia?

Insomnia is a common sleep condition that makes it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake feeling rested. It can happen occasionally during stressful times or become an ongoing issue that affects your daily life. When sleep problems continue, they can impact your energy, mood, and overall health.

Possible causes include:

• Stress, anxiety, or depression
• Irregular sleep schedules, such as shift work or travel
• Caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine use
• Certain medications
• Ongoing pain or medical conditions
• Hormonal changes, including menopause
• Poor sleep habits or an uncomfortable sleep environment

Symptoms

Insomnia can look different for each person, but it often leads to poor-quality sleep and daytime fatigue.

Common symptoms include:

• Difficulty falling asleep at night
• Waking up during the night or too early
• Feeling tired even after a full night in bed
• Trouble focusing or remembering
• Irritability, anxiety, or low mood
• Low energy during the day

How is it diagnosed?

Your provider will start by learning about your sleep patterns, lifestyle, and overall health. You may be asked to keep a sleep diary to track when and how well you sleep.

In some cases, additional testing may be recommended. This can include a sleep study to monitor your breathing, movement, and brain activity overnight. These steps help identify underlying causes and guide treatment.

How is it treated?

Treatment focuses on improving sleep and addressing potential causes of the problem.

Most people start with simple changes, such as:

• Building a consistent sleep schedule
• Creating a calm, comfortable sleep environment
• Limiting caffeine and screen time before bed

Behavioral therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), can be very effective. These approaches help change thoughts and habits that interfere with sleep.

If needed, your provider may:

• Adjust medications that affect sleep
• Recommend short-term sleep aids
• Treat underlying health or mental health conditions

With the right care plan, many people see meaningful improvement in their sleep.