Following that we ll examine abnormal sleep and discuss some of it s causes. Normal sleep varies considerably from person to person. Although the average seems to be around 8hrs of unbroken sleep some people need much longer whilst others exist quite happily on only a few hours each night. It s also worth remembering that people generally need less sleep as they get older. It s also quite normal for most people to have occasional periods of insomnia, particularly at times of stress, illness or change.
Doctors divide sleep disorders into three main categories.
People can suffer from any or all of these problems depending upon their individual diagnosis and the severity of their disorder. The exact nature of the problems can be useful in diagnosing other disorders but may not necessarily be a problem in its own right. For example people suffering initial insomnia often find that once they do get to sleep they sleep extremely well and wake fully rested albeit later than they used to. This may not be so much a sleep disorder as a problem in sleep pattern . The most significant factor is how rested the insomniac feels .