If you have trouble drifting off to dreamland, or staying there, you're not alone. Insomnia is America's most prevalent sleep disorder. And like all sleep disorders, insomnia can have an enormous impact upon our quality of life and physical well-being. Symptoms may include difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and waking up too early.
Insomnia results in daytime symptoms, too.
You may feel sleepy, anxious or irritable, and you may have difficulty concentrating and remembering. People with insomnia are more prone to car accidents and other mishaps. They feel less well physically and are less able to enjoy family and social activities. Types of insomnia can range from transient, lasting for a few nights, to short-term, which brings two or three weeks of poor sleep. When poor sleep lasts three weeks or longer, it's characterized as chronic insomnia.